LIMERICK captain Declan Hannon is wholesome in his praise of Cork ahead of this weekend’s hugely-anticipated All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final between the counties at GAA Headquarters.
Not surprisingly, the Shannonsiders are short-priced favourites to keep alive the historic attempt at ‘Drive for Five’.
Cork, however, were slender winners over us in the round-robin stages of the Munster Championship back in May at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and The Rebels have since won another three fixtures (against Tipperary, Offaly, and Dublin).
Stated Hannon: “Cork are probably the form team at the minute, they’ve won four on the bounce which is not an easy thing to do. We’ll need a lot of things to go right for us to get over the line.”
The three-time All-Star said that he has “always rated Cork as one of the top, top teams in the country”.
“Every time we play them it’s such a fast-paced game. Their skill levels are through the roof. Their work rate and intensity is savage.
“I think there was only a point in it last year. If Cork maybe came through, we were gone. So there’s very little between any of the teams, to be honest in the latter, stages of the championship. I’m looking forward to another belter of a game. It’ll be great to be involved in it.”
Since his debut back in 2011, Hannon (31) has lined out in an astonishing 115 senior fixtures with his county, and famously led Limerick to the breakthrough All-Ireland success just six years ago.
The leader has also bagged three deserved All-Star Awards over the last little while.
