Antrim v Cork: Could this be a banana skin for Cork? Antrim's excellent performance against Waterford in a challenge in Loughgiel must have raised a few eyebrows around the Rebel county. Challenge game or not, they put 4-19 past the Munster champions and lost only by a couple of points

If Dinny Cahill's promise to deliver a McCarthy Cup to Antrim within three years is to be realised, then it must be this season.

The Tipperary man is hardly entering this game by stealth, having boldly predicted his team would beat a Cork side he appears to regard less than highly.

Such zeal must be unnerving for a man as guarded as Donal O'Grady. At the very least, he can expect Antrim to prove tricky customers in Croke Park.

Timmy McCarthy returns to the half-forward line. Beyond that the team runs along expected lines. Paddy Richmond has been bagging goals for Antrim and will be as keen as any forward to test the scope for calamity of the Cork back division.

In Brian McFall, the Ulster champions have a fairly prolific point-taker, and Jim Connolly has been enjoying a good season at centrefield.

But Antrim teams already know from his club exploits how Ben O'Connor enjoys the space and scenery in Croke Park. Antrim can expect to be on the back foot in both the half-back and half-forward lines.

This is a game that will give Brian Corcoran a chance to exercise himself back at headquarters and to try and build a fuller relationship with Joe Deane and company before the competition becomes molten.

If Cork are serious All-Ireland contenders, this should be a game of self-discovery and confidence-building, and as such it could be ideal because Antrim are coming in pumped with Cahill's faith in them.

If Cork arrive in lax mood, they could be in trouble, but with O'Grady in charge, the chances of that are negligible.

Onwards for Cork.