PATRICK Horgan believes Cork should be targeting a place in the Division 1A hurling league final.

A win or a draw against Offaly in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening (7pm) would be enough to send Ben O’Connor’s side into the decider.

Horgan, the championship’s all-time leading scorer and a key figure in Cork’s 2025 league triumph, says another final would be the ideal springboard into the Munster championship.

‘A league final is something Cork would have aimed towards. That’s where everybody wants to be,’ Horgan told The Southern Star.

‘Cork won the league last year and they’ll want to do the same again. With a gap week in the first round of the championship, Limerick will also want a good game.’

Limerick host Galway at the same time on Saturday and avoiding defeat would secure their own place in the final.

With the Munster championship fast approaching, both sides will be eager to sharpen up ahead of what promises to be another fiercely competitive provincial campaign.

‘Every game in the Munster championship is more or less 50-50,’ the Glen Rovers man explained.

‘One surprise result and the whole championship is blown wide open. There are four games and you have to win two to qualify but it’s so competitive. It always goes down to the last game, the last puck of the ball.

‘There are no easy games. You could get put on the back foot after the first match and be chasing your tail. Cork will want a good start and move from there. They’ll definitely want to win the first round against Tipperary.’

Patrick Horgan is the all-time top scorer in the All-Ireland SHC with 32 goals and 683 points (total 779 points).

Much has been made of Cork’s physical edge in the league so far. The Rebels have collected 16 yellow cards, along with a black and a red. Some have wondered if it signals a more aggressive approach under new manager Ben O’Connor, but Horgan doesn’t see it that way.

‘You’re not going to change that element within a few weeks of introducing new players,’ he said.

‘They’ve been winning games because they’re better than teams. That hasn’t happened overnight. There has been plenty of work done over the last few years to get them to the level they’re at today.

‘We were hard to beat last year as well, running through the league and beating teams by almost a cricket score. I think Cork have the best team right now. They’re showing it and there’s nothing else to it.’

With Horgan retiring from inter-county hurling in the off-season, Cork have also had to fill the void left by one of the game’s most reliable free-takers. So far this year Alan Connolly and Tim O’Mahony have shared the responsibility from placed balls.

Connolly has improved steadily with each outing, while O’Mahony converted six of eight frees against Limerick – the two misses coming from inside his own half.

Horgan knows better than most what it takes to succeed in that role.

‘Style and striking are obviously key assets to have,’ he said.

‘You just want to be hitting the ball sweet every time. That’s the key to it.

‘Cork have done a good job on it so far but they’ll probably want to firm up who it’s going to be and go with that.’

In attack, players such as Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett and William Buckley have impressed, while youngsters Barry Walsh and Alan Walsh have also caught the eye.

However, Horgan believes the team’s defensive displays have been just as encouraging.

‘It’s hard to identify a star player because there’s been so much chopping and changing,’ he said.

‘So many fellas are getting chances, which is good. Eoin Downey has played really well at wing-back and Tommy O’Connell was excellent at midfield against Limerick.

‘The amount of game-time being given to the panel has been the big positive for me.’

Watching Cork from the stands is still a new experience for the Glen Rovers legend following his inter-county retirement.

‘I’m enjoying it,’ he said.

‘I’m doing different things and still training with the club. I wouldn’t have watched much hurling when I was playing but now that I’m not, I’m doing a few things off the field.

‘I enjoy watching Cork. Those are my buddies playing. The retirement hasn’t really sunk in yet, so we’ll see what the year brings.’

• Procure.ie, Ireland’s largest energy broker, recently announced that former Cork hurling star Patrick Horgan has joined the company.