The Cork footballers face Offaly this weekend for the first time since 2022.
The Rebels travel up to Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday for the third game in the Allianz Division 2 Football League with throw-in at 2pm.
Both sides come into the encounter in contrasting form, Cork have four points on the board after wins over Cavan and Louth while Offaly lost to Louth and Kildare.
The Leesiders will be keen to get another two points to maintain their strong start to the season.
Cork’s Mark Cronin shoots against Louth. Picture: Moya Nolan
They certainly won’t be underestimating the challenge of Offaly. It was only four years ago when Cork were very lucky to get out of Tullamore with a victory.
It meant safety for John Cleary’s side, who was in interim charge at the time, on the final day of the regular league campaign.
That loss resulted in demotion for Offaly as the game finished on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-20.
When the need was greatest, Cork stepped up to the plate, edging an incredibly tense encounter by claiming three of the last four scores, having trailed by a point approaching injury-time.
Cleary’s reaction when the final whistle sounded told the story as he let his hair down running on to the pitch to celebrate with his players.
Matty Taylor of Cork is congratulated by Cork interim manager John Cleary after victory over Offaly in 2022. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
It was a big moment for Cork football. It’s doubtful Cleary will celebrate in a similar fashion if the Rebels were to pick up another victory on Sunday, but it would be another huge two points in Cork’s quest to return to Division 1 for the first time since 2016.
Scorers for Cork: S Sherlock 0-9 (0-4 f), C O’Mahony 1-1, B Hurley (0-1 m), J O’Rourke 0-3 each, C O’Callaghan 0-2, M Taylor, B Murphy, C Kiely 0-1 each.
Offaly: N McNamee 0-7 (0-2 f, 0-2 m), A Sullivan 1-3 (1-0 pen), B Carroll 0-3, R McNamee 0-2, N Darby, K O’Neill, C Flynn, P Dunican (f), J Moloney 0-1 each.
CORK: M A Martin; K O’Donovan, K Flahive, T Walsh; J Cooper, R Maguire, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; D Dineen, E McSweeney, J O’Rourke; S Sherlock, B Hurley, C O’Mahony.
Subs: B Murphy for E McSweeney (47), M Cronin for C O’Mahony (51), C Kiely for K Flahive (52), B Hartnett for D Dineen (59), F Herlihy for J O’Rourke (69).
OFFALY: P Dunican; K Dolan, J Lalor, N Darby; L Pearson, D Hogan, C Doyle; C Donoghue, J Hayes; D Hyland, R McNamee, B Carroll; J Moloney, N McNamee, A Sullivan.
Subs: C Flynn for L Pearson (23, inj), M Abbott for D Hyland (51), K O’Neill for C O’Donoghue (52), C Donnelly for C Doyle (55), B Allen for A Sullivan (68).
Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).