LAST SUMMER’S ALL-IRELAND runners-up Cork take on neighbours Waterford in Thurles on Sunday afternoon in a mouth-watering Munster championship opener.

We asked the experts what we can expect to see at Semple.

Nicky English

Nicky English prepares for his TV work. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

“A lot of people are writing off Waterford but I saw them a couple of times in the league and they were impressive enough up to a point. Against Kilkenny they had a lack of punch up front and against Tipperary they had similar difficulties.

At the same time I don’t think there is that much between any of the teams in the championship.

I’m very interested to see what Cork will bring to the party; they were poor enough in the league against Tipperary at the end. Now, I wonder how interested they were in the league but they could be a dangerous team this year.

“My original thought was Cork would be one of my main fancies for the All-Ireland if they built on last year which I think they have in finding a few new players but I’ll be interested to see what they bring to the party on Sunday.

Waterford will be a test for them. We haven’t seen that much of Cork. We saw them in the quarter-final against Tipperary and they were down early made a bit of a recovery but didn’t set the world on fire but showed certain dangers. Harnedy and Lehane showed form so I would say Cork are under the radar really and that’s probably the way Jimmy Barry Murphy would like it.

But for me they’d be a prime fancy for the All-Ireland

As for Waterford, despite injuries I still think they will compete by the way they have a lot of good players. The likes of Kevin Moran, ‘Brick’ Walsh across the half back line, midfield, they are very strong around there .

The difficulty since they lost Mullane since last year is I think scoring goals and getting scores is difficult for them.”

Conor McGrath

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“I think it will be a very good game. We just got over Waterford in the quarter-final, got a few points late on to beat them.

“Cork beat us well so I’m not sure I don’t think we have any preference for who we play but I’m looking forward to watching it. Waterford have a lot of exciting young players coming through now. They’ve won the last few minors and are having similar success to the Clare minors over the last couple of years so I think they will be coming strong.

“They have unbelievable players like Kevin Moran and ‘Brick’ Walsh so from that side they will be very strong and I don’t kneed to talk about Cork after the battles we had last year. Whoever comes through it will be a huge test for us and we are looking forward to watching them on Sunday. 

Jamesie O’Connor

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

If you put me to the pin of my collar now I’d say Cork given the way the year has gone to date for Waterford they were poor in Ennis. I think they learned a lot from that tactically, Clare tore them to shreds in the first half and if they played in the morning I think they’d be a lot wiser and they wouldn’t defend as naively as they did that day so who got more out of the game, probably Waterford.

With the injuries they have had and the league finishing like it did you would say Cork are in a better place going into the championship. That’s often not the way the championship goes and Waterford won’t fear Cork. And I think Cork have questions marks at three and six.

Shane O’Neill did a great job last year but he’s not a full back. If you’re a Cork supporter you’d like to see them nailed down and I don’t think they have addressed those issues. Aidan Walsh is a factor. The word on the street is he expects to start and Paudie O’Sullivan. Based on that, Cork are favourites but it’s the Munster championship and there are no foregone conclusions.

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