The Echo Sport Podcast crew has a bumper show this week as the inter-county season builds to a gripping conclusion.

Now in its fourth season, every Monday, Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen on Echolive.ie/podcast or where you get your podcasts.

The Cork footballers' campaign ended on a low note. Not just that they were beaten by Mayo in a game they were slight underdogs in but it represented a superb chance to make the All-Ireland semis for the first time in 14 years, but because they had the chances to deliver.

They hit 14 wides to Mayo's seven, went in level at half-time having had a spell of real dominance in the first half, and coughed up three points because of technical frees. They were stronger on kick-outs, grabbing 14 of Mayo's 30 but just couldn't turn quality possession into a match-winning tally.

A haul of just 0-18 won't win a match at the business end of championship, under the new rules and there was a sense Cork fell back into some of their old habits. They certainly didn't kick enough into the inside line and there wasn't enough dynamic movement from Steven Sherlock and co up top.

Cork worked the ball around the arc looking to land two-pointers, their trademark in beating Meath and Donegal, far too often. Mayo had their homework done, tackled ferociously, but John Cleary and his players will know they should have been more urgent in their attacking approach.

It means Cork haven't won a championship game on Jones Road since 2013 and have lost in three of the last five All-Ireland quarter-finals. Without disrespecting Louth, who would have had no fear of Cork, it was an incredible opportunity to make the final.

The football season still has one more game to go, with Cork meeting Tyrone in Newbridge. The Red Hand are an underage powerhouse but Keith Ricken's young Rebels have every chance in the county's first minor All-Ireland final in seven years.

Both U17 teams are unbeaten across the campaign and it should be a terrific match that goes all the way to the wire.

The Cork hurlers are back in Croker next Saturday in what will be a sell-out All-Ireland semi-final showdown with Leinster champions Galway. Naturally, chasing a third successive appearance in the decider, the Rebels are favourites but on no level will Ben O'Connor's management be taking this game lightly.

In the modern era, Cork's record against the Tribe is very poor, going out at their hands in 2009, 2011, 2015 and '22, since the last win over them in 2008 when O'Connor and selector Ronan Curran were playing.

Cork have some selection headaches, depending on the fitness of Tim O'Mahony and Tommy O'Connell, particularly after Alan Walsh's two-goal first start in the Offaly win.

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The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.

Now in its fourth season, the podcast sees the Echo team discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. In the wake of the Cork hurlers reaching the All-Ireland SHC semi-finals for the third straight year and the minor football team producing another fine display to get to an All-Ireland final, Denis Hurley is joined by Barry O’Mahony and Rory Noonan.

As Rory and Barry pointed out, Cork were caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of their All-Ireland quarter-final against Offaly – a big win would not necessarily give much insight whereas a tight battle would have raised plenty of questions.

In the event, Cork got the job done in a professional fashion, scoring six goals as they won by 26 points, and a semi-final with Galway looms as Ben O’Connor’s side aim to reach a third straight All-Ireland final – something Cork last did during the manager’s own playing days, 2004-06.

Four changes to the starting team meant a chance for players to stake their claims and Rory and Barry assess how they fared while also discussing the use of the Cork bench.

Cork’s win, and that of Clare against Limerick, mean that the All-Ireland semi-finals will once again feature three Munster teams – while the state of hurling is part of a wider discussion, the dominance of southern sides is something worthy of consideration.

For now though, the Cork journey continues while the last-four tie against the Leinster champions on Saturday, July 4 is again set to be close to a sell-out: at a time when it is so expensive to bring a family to a match, the dedication of the Cork support again comes in for praise from the panel.

The Rebel supporters will be on the road again this weekend, with Mayo the opponents for the Cork football team in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park.

Barry O’Mahony believes that it is as good a draw as Cork could have hoped for, with the westerners not the force they were when they were regularly reaching All-Ireland finals.

Both he and Rory expect a tough battle but with Cork given a great chance to reach the semi-finals for what would be the first time since 2012.

The big-ball code is on a roll on Leeside, with Keith Ricken’s side through to the All-Ireland final following a great win over Derry. Barry O’Mahony feels that the strength of the collective unit has come to the fore, with Rory Noonan singling out Ricken’s man-management skills and ability to develop young players.

You can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Rebels flying high after Donegal win

The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.

Now in its fourth season, the podcast sees the Echo team discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. In the wake of Saturday’s incredible All-Ireland SFC win over Donegal, Denis Hurley is joined by Barry O’Mahony and John Horgan.

Going in as outsiders in the round 2A clash in Ballybofey, Cork were given little chance of taking the direct route to the quarter-finals, especially when they trailed at half-time, but a flurry of two-pointers swung the game the way of John Cleary’s men.

All things considered, Barry O’Mahony reckons that it was the county’s biggest football championship win since the 2010 All-Ireland, with the county board’s decision to sanction a flight to Derry vindicated.

Cork now have the luxury of a gap until the quarter-finals at the end of June, with the round 3 fixtures this weekend set to eliminate four of Monaghan, Westmeath, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Armagh, Mayo and Meath. Waiting along with Cork for the last-eight ties in Croke Park are Galway, Louth and Derry, underlining the sense that it is the most open football championship in years.

In the recent past, Cork have been guilty of following a good result with a poor one and the challenge now is to change that record and reach a semi-final, something that has not happened since 2012.

That year, both the Cork hurlers and footballers made the last four of their respective championships and the hurlers can complete the first leg of such a double this Sunday if they beat Offaly in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final in Thurles.

Despite the expected absences of Tommy O’Connell and Tim O’Mahony, Cork will be strong favourites to get the better of the Faithful County, though Offaly did impress in qualifying from the Leinster round-robin.

Notwithstanding Limerick’s defeat to Dublin last year, the panel expect Cork to respond strongly to the Munster SHC loss to the Shannonsiders. Also in action this weekend are Keith Ricken’s minor football side, who take on Derry as they seek to build on an impressive campaign to date.

While the minor hurlers lost their semi-final to Tipperary, it was their seventh championship game and laid a foundation for the further development of the players involved.

You can listen at https://www.echolive.ie/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.a

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