O'Leary believes there is plenty of life left in Cork challenge

Championship 2004 Hurling quarter-finals: The perennial banana skin of Antrim is in Cork's path this Sunday when they make their first visit to Croke Park since last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Kilkenny.

Former attacking great and current selector Seanie O'Leary is the ideal man to help keep the focus in check. His medals are safely tucked away at home, while most of the current crop only know the pang of defeat come September. Five years and counting since the last major return.

After losing to Waterford, the gems of the summer thus far, in the Munster final the only way to make a significant step forward from 2003 would be to deliver the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Since then, a potential legend, Setanta Ó hAilpín, has departed to Australia while the great man of 1999, Brian Corcoran, has come back in an attempt to fill Setanta's shoes.

Also, young players like John Gardiner appear more comfortable in the championship surroundings and new blood continues to come off the production line in the shape of Brian and Ciarán Murphy. Yet, Waterford had their number on Munster final day.

For the first time in ages, Seanie O'Leary wasn't present.

It requires a good reason to explain this and, in fairness, he had one.

His son, Tomás, was playing scrumhalf for the Irish under-21s in the World Cup final in Scotland that same afternoon. A dark day all round.

Cork were beaten by an inspired Waterford display, while Ireland were blown off the pitch by an awesome New Zealand outfit. Disappointing but unavoidable.

"Yeah disappointing," agrees O'Leary, "but I didn't want to be anywhere else on the given day.

"It was crazy that of all the days in the year that the two events clashed."

Tomás O'Leary is a former minor and under-21 hurler but he may be lost to the ancient game due to the influence of the rugby-inclined Christian Brothers College, Cork, especially on the evidence of last month's tournament when he was a leading influence in Ireland's run to the final.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that yet," chides O'Leary senior to such a suggestion.

Professionalism hasn't lured another Cork man away just yet.

After the defeat to Justin McCarthy's Waterford, the old battle lines with Tipperary were drawn to define their year.

Nothing outstanding but the job was done, with Seanie O'Leary back near the line as well.

"I was reasonably pleased (with the performance) but victory was only achieved via Niall McCarthy's goal with four or five minutes to go. Importantly, the lads were very committed. Hopefully this week they will get in another good performance. They are very focused so hopefully the best is yet to come."

Ideally, they wouldn't take this arduous route to win an All-Ireland - they will have to play seven games and that's before any consideration is given to the club championship, which continues the week after next - but such is the punishment for defeat in the current system.

At least, they avoided All-Ireland champions Kilkenny. Having to dance with them on current form may have come one game too early.

"They're on another planet and a long way away from the others at the moment," continued O'Leary, "but it (the draw) don't make a difference. You have to play them at some stage. The public look at it as an easy draw but sure look at the Cork footballers, they thought they had an easy draw against Fermanagh.

"You have to be very careful, it's the same as football; hot favourites seem to be getting beat every week. We just have to make sure it is not us."

Looking at how far Antrim have slipped backwards since they put it up to Wexford in their big day out last summer it is unlikely that a team of Cork's stature will falter.

The Ulster champions' league campaign was marked by some heavy defeats and a second match was required to overcome Down. Cork have too much class and a management team that doesn't accept a drop in standards.

"It's takes a lot out of you when you lose your provincial final. We've already played Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary and still have three more games to go to an All-Ireland. It's a long road."