Two from two again as the hurlers survived a snarling battle with Galway in Salthill while the footballers beat the Leinster champions Louth on the road.

The Echo Sport Podcast crew reflect on a brilliant weekend for the Rebels, particularly the footballers who made it back to back wins in their opening two Division 2 games for the first time. They'd lost twice in recent years in the league in Louth, along with an All-Ireland qualifier exit, so this was a significant result which puts John Cleary's side in a strong position for promotion.

Having Steven Sherlock up front along with Brian Hurley, Mark Cronin and goal-scorer Chris Óg Jones gives Cork a balanced scoring threat up front and storming into an eight-point lead at half-time put the visitors in control.

They've now got a weekend off before visiting Offaly and they're at home to Meath at the end of the month. If they can build on this momentum they'll be well set before trips to Derry and Tyrone in March.

Most importantly they'll get the Cork public back behind them if they can put a winning streak together and we saw how crucial the crowd was to their late rally in the opening round victory over Cavan in the Páirc.

The hurlers up against a fired-up Galway who made all the early running on Saturday night. Down seven points and way well the mark in terms of intensity, Cork showed a lot of experience and character to turn it around at Pearse Stadium.

They hurled on the edge at times but were far more clinical than the Tribe and were able to get through for goal chances in the second half with Brian Hayes finishing two of them. The introduction of Hayes and Tim O'Mahony added heft but also showed how seriously Ben O'Connor and his management team are taking the league.

They'll certainly be fully tuned in on Saturday night in front of 25,000 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for an All-Ireland final rematch against Tipp, who have also won their first two league matches. It'll be the Rebels' third game in 13 days and while the mid-April Munster championship meeting is the priority, Cork won't want to give any quarter here.

With a gap of three weeks until an away game with Kilkenny, victory this weekend would put defending champions Cork in a strong position to return to the league final.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

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Two from two at a cold but sunny Páirc, Cork fans can't have too many complaints after the opening round of the league and the Echo Podcast crew review the action.

The Ben O’Connor era got off to an ideal start as the Cork hurlers eased to a 3-25 to 1-17 victory over Waterford.

In front of a bumper crowd of 20,464 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the Rebels were in clinical form against an inexperienced Déise in the opening quarter as they led 0-11 to 0-3.

Alan Connolly and Declan Dalton raised first-half green flags, and newcomer William Buckley added a third goal in the second half before picking up the TG4 Man of the Match. Buckley was a star underage attacker for Cork and showed his potential at the top level, as his touch, movement and accuracy stood out.

The more experienced crew of Seán O'Donoghue, Niall O'Leary and Mark Coleman didn't put a foot wrong while Rob Downey and Shane Barrett were terrific in the first half and Tommy O'Connell had a stormer in the second.

Still, it's only the league, Waterford were understrength and there's the matter of a free-taker, post-Patrick Horgan.

In the footballers’ league opener, they rallied from seven points down to squeeze out Cavan 0-24 to 2-17 with Steven Sherlock nailing the crucial injury-time two-pointer.

What a boost it is to have him back in situ.

Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones, and Seán McDonnell clipped the scores to set up the grandstand finish. There were a few standout performers, and with Derry losing and Tyrone drawing their opening league games, Cork are in a strong position heading to Louth.

However, questions will be asked about coughing up two goals on home turf even if it did set the stage for the comeback.

In ladies football, Katie Quirke’s late free gave Cork a 1-10 to 2-7 draw against Kildare at MTU, while Rochestown College made a disappointing exit in the Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final.

At third level, UCC are in Fitzgibbon Cup and Sigerson action on the road while MTU Cork will be eager to make home advantage count in their Fitz quarter-final.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Echo Podcast crew return just in time for the throw-in of the national hurling and football leagues.

Cork footballers take on Cavan before the hurlers host Waterford in an attractive double-header in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where both teams need a winning start to the campaign.

John Cleary's charges got a boost with a first competitive victory in Killarney since 1995 over Kerry, albeit in the McGrath Cup final, which won't be causing the old enemy to lose any sleep.

Still, late points from Brian Hurley and Chris Óg Jones gave the Rebels the narrowest of victories in a game where the contentious new rules that lead to frees being advanced 50 metres worked in their favour.

Cork have been in the lower leagues since 2016 and haven't really looked like returning, largely down to slow starts to the season. With four away games, they'll need to pick up points on home turf.

Clearly and his management team are vastly experienced at this stage but the vibes are more positive at this stage than they were last year, with a decent blend of youth and experience.

The hurlers won't be prioritising the secondary competition after ending a 27-year wait for silverware last term but Ben O'Connor will be eager to get wins on the board early to allow them to look at their options in the coming weeks. The new bainisteoir has already stated there won't be radical change but tactically there will be tweaks from the long-ball style of last year.

It's a hectic time of year, with UCC and MTU Cork, who have impressed to date, busy with the Fitzgibbon Cup.

There's a look at the form of both Cork teams in preseason, as well as a breakdown of the recent Fitzgibbon and Sigerson action and the Corn Uí Mhuirí and Harty matches.

There's a discussion of the appointment of Ian Maguire and Darragh Fitzgibbon as Cork captains, replacing Brian Hurley and Rob Downey. Plus they flag up the young players to watch in the coming weeks and examine the prospects of the rookies who are on the hurling and football squads.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.