HURLING:Offaly v Cork: IN SOME ways this qualifier has teams meeting at a crossroads but heading in opposite directions. Cork will have never been less disappointed to lose a Munster championship quarter-final to Tipperary by just a goal.

Disappointed, yes – but not desperately so, given the players’ activities earlier in the year. It could have been so much worse.

Instead, it gave them the time, space and hope to rebuild momentum through the qualifiers, the first stage of which should begin this evening. Manager Denis Walsh has made just three changes from the team which played so well against Tipp, with Shane Murphy and Tadhg Óg Murphy making their championship debuts at corner back and midfield respectively.

Offaly manager Joe Dooley also finds himself without several key players, including captain Ger Oakley (elbow), James Rigney (shoulder), Daniel Currams (finger) and Cathal Parlon (knee). David Franks does return and full back David Kenny has also been passed fit, but Cork remain too much of a daunting prospect.

CORK:D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Ó Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, T Óg Murphy; J O'Connor, P Cronin, T McCarthy; B O'Connor, A Ó hAilpín, K Murphy (Sarsfields).

OFFALY:B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; D Hayden, R Hanniffy, P Cleary; K Brady, B Murphy; B Carroll, C Mahon, D Molloy; S Dooley, J Brady, J Bergin.

Referee:D Murphy (Wexford).