SO, it turns out Cork can roll out sharpshooters Brian Hurley and Steven Sherlock in the same team – and to devastating effect.

There was a growing feeling it would be one or the other in the Cork attack, alongside Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin, but both Hurley and Sherlock started in the latest Division 2 win – away to Louth – and combined for 0-10 on the scoreboard.

With two rounds completed, table-toppers Cork are the joint second-highest scorers in Division 2 with 1-41. Only Kildare (4-36) have scored more. Sherlock (0-12) and Hurley (0-5) have already hit five two-pointers between them. Cork’s only other two-point scorer is Seán McDonnell.

Boss John Cleary decided to start the two sharpshooters together against Louth and both caused problems. Given how well it worked, you’d imagine the pair will start again this Sunday when the Rebels face Offaly in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore (2pm).

‘You want them up in the opposition half, causing trouble,” John Hayes told the Star Sport Podcast.

‘Brian, when he is at his best, is a total nightmare for defenders. He’s strong, has a low centre of gravity, is two-footed and has speed – maybe not as quick as when he burst onto the scene ten or 11 years ago, but still an absolute handful when he’s at it.

‘Steven just has a knack of getting into places where he can be fed possession and make a couple of yards of space to get a shot off. He had a couple of wides the last day (against Louth), but still ended up with 0-8. He’s just invaluable.

‘I don’t think you can be married to saying it’s one or the other. The management has shown a bit of ingenuity to go, “we can get both of them on the pitch.” The other team is going, “right, we can’t just focus on one of them.”’

If Hurley and Sherlock bring their A-game, Cork will be fancied to make it three wins in a row this weekend, but it’s important to stay grounded ahead of this potential banana skin. The expectation is Cork will win, but the county hasn’t won their first three games in one of the top two divisions since 2014.

The victories so far, over Cavan (0-24 to 2-17) and Louth (1-17 to 1-12), were impressive for different reasons. Cork came from seven points down with 12 minutes to play to beat Cavan, while the game against Louth was comfortable for long stretches.

Matty Taylor and Maurice Shanley both impressed in defence against Louth after not starting against Cavan. With Seán Brady out with a hand injury, Shanley looks primed to start again. It will be interesting to see if Cleary gives Taylor the nod after his solid display.

Another key call is at midfield. Seán Walsh won important breaks around the middle last time out but, with Ian Maguire building fitness after a long club campaign with St Finbarr’s, will the captain get the nod this time?

UCC’s Sigerson Cup campaign is also nearing its end, so will that mean more game-time for defender Jacob O’Driscoll and attacker Conor Daly? There are plenty of selection questions that will be answered by the end of the week.

Offaly come into this game on the back of two defeats. However, Southern Star columnist John Hayes has warned about Cork’s trip to Tullamore in 2006, when they lost (0-12 to 1-5). There was also Cork’s narrow 1-21 to 1-20 win over the Faithful in 2022, a result that kept Cork in Division 2.

Those games are reminders that, whatever the circumstances, this will still be a tricky away day for the Rebels – their consistency may be tested.

Conceding 4-38 across losses to Louth (0-19 to 1-21) and Kildare (0-17 to 3-17) means Offaly have the worst defensive record so far in Division 2 – perhaps Hurley, Sherlock, Jones and Cronin can add to the home side’s woes.

Also, only Keith O’Neill (0-12) has scored more than five points for the Leinster county.

If Cork can replicate their assured display against Louth, this is a winnable game. With a home tie against Meath as well as away trips to Derry and Tyrone to come, this is a must-win if Cork are to keep their promotion ambitions alive.