An end to Cork's drought in the Allianz hurling league could spur the Rebels to All-Ireland glory, according to Dónal Óg Cusack.
It is an oddity that since the Leesiders last got their hands on the league trophy 24 years ago, seven different counties have managed the feat with the Rebels featuring very little at the business end of the season.
Back in 1998, Cork fans were stewing over the absence of Liam MacCarthy in the county, but Jimmy Barry-Murphy led a young side to a 2-14 to 0-13 point win over Waterford.
All-Ireland champions Clare ended their championship ambitions that summer in a provincial semi-final, but Cusack, a sub goalkeeper to Ger Cunningham that season, believes the title was contributing factor to All-Ireland success a year later.
Fast forward to present day and Cork are experiencing their longest ever drought without climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand, but Cusack is encouraged by what he sees from Kieran Kingston's team.
New captain Mark Coleman has shifted to centre-back with ease in front of a full-back line that looks much more solid.
Darragh Fitzgibbon continues provide energy and scores from the middle third while Conor Lehane appears rejuvenated following his inter-county absence. Add in Patrick Horgan’s customary scoring and a greater appetite for turnovers in the forward division and Cusack points to a sunny outlook.
Last Sunday’s comprehensive defeat of Limerick, coming with the sobering All-Ireland final defeat fresh in the memory, was a reminder that when it clicks for Cork, they are a team with many threats.
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"It was definitely a step forward for Cork," Cusack told the RTÉ GAA podcast. "It was very important after last year’s All-Ireland final that they came out and did what they did.
"What was really impressive is that you can see Cork are moving the ball well. They have that good mix of really good spatial awareness moving it through the middle part of the field, and they mixed it up as well."
Such is Cork’s poor record this time of year, it has surprised many that the Rebels are three wins from three, with the visit of Galway on Saturday night another litmus test in the development of the team.
While Cusack says Limerick almost put Cork into a no-win situation last Sunday with the likes of Will O’Donoghue, Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane held in reserve - "Cork should be beating that team that Limerick put out in the first-half if they have designs on the All-Ireland championship, and beating them well" - it was a job well done.
Why would it do any harm to have big games in the lead-up to the championship?
Adamant that the 1998 league title fed into their All-Ireland success, Cusack insists the competitive nature of the knockout games would stand to the Rebels with the championship looming on the horizon.
"Winning the league would do Cork no harm at all. Why would it do any harm to have big games in the lead-up to the championship?
"The only downside would be that you would be showing your hand fully to Limerick, and they would see what you’re at as you have to in getting to a semi-final or final.
"The closest thing you are going to get to a championship game is by playing a big team with something on the line."
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