First blood to Cork

Cork won their first big psychological battle over another Munster side this season with their one-point win over Waterford on their home patch.
There has been a great rivalry between the two sides in recent years and today’s game was no different even if it lacked the bite of championship.
Both sides will take positives out of the game, for Cork they came back once again to edge the game, not panicking when they slipped behind.
They have a great ability to stay within striking range of teams and are good enough when they get the chances to take them.
Ben O’Connor is still hugely important to the Rebels but all in all they will be happy with their progress to date given their late start to this year’s campaign.
As for Justin McCarthy’s team they have looked better as the league has gone on after a very slow start.
John Mullane has had two games on the trot and given his poor form by his standards of the last two seasons that’s good news for the Decies.
If there is one area of concern it must be the ease with which Cathal Naughton blew away the full back line for the Rebels’ first goal.
Limerick exposed the Decies’ full back line in last year’s All-Ireland semi finals and McCarthy must know that unless he does something to tackle this that the Decies will fall short once again this year.