Cork County Board have been faced with a strike threat for the second time this season but have managed to head off this one at the pass. Local football clubs were incensed that the date for the first round of the local championship was moved, a problem that was caused by Croke Park's refixing of the postponed Dublin versus Armagh NFL Division 2 game for this weekend. That caused the final round of Divisions 2 and 3 of the NFL to be shifted back a week (to April 19-20) which has drawn criticism from a variety of counties because of its domino effect on domestic fixtures. Cork had additional complications because of their numbers of dual clubs, and also because the county hurlers are heading to La Manga for a training camp from April 21-26 which limited their re-fixture options.

Five unanswered points in the first 20 minutes of the second half was all the leg-up Cork needed to go on and secure a 0-13 to 0-8 win over Limerick in a poor NHL Division One quarter-final tie at the Gaelic Grounds. The first half was a tightly contested affair with the Shannonsiders leading by 0-6 to 0-5 but Limerick managed to score only two points after the restart as the Rebel County strolled into the semi-finals. On a bitterly cold day in front of a disappointing crowd, Cork newcomer Brian Corry impressed as his side led by the odd point in five after 13 minutes with Andrew O’Shaughnessy firing over Limerick’s first point from play in the 12th minute.

Monaghan’s unbeaten record in this season’s National Football League came to a shuddering halt in Pairc Uí Rinn on Saturday night, as a second half full of class and power led Cork to victory. It was a win built largely on the back of a second half performance which had Monaghan transfixed, unable to take the ball away from opponents who found space where there was none, and moved possession around the field with a confidence which was hard to live with. Corner-forward Daniel Goulding led the lancing on their charge, with five points, four from play. The sheer comfort of the Cork lead at that point – six points and strolling – seemed to enrage Tommy Freeman, who pulled the visitors back from the pit of embarrassment with four consecutive unanswered points. Too late. Cork will be especially relieved to win after firing 15 wides, against five for Monaghan, whose economy class saw them lead 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, with one wide against seven.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan and John Gardiner return to the Cork team for Sunday’s NHL quarter-final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. In all, manager Gerard McCarthy has made four changes to the side that edged out Waterford in last weekend’s play-off. O’Sullivan returns at full back with Brian Murphy moving to the left corner at the expense of Cian O’Connor. Gardiner is named at right half back in place of Kevin Hartnett, while Brian Corry and Kevin Canty replace Fintan O’Leary and Patrick Horgan in attack. Tom Kenny switches back to midfield after a spell at centre forward, while Leigh Desmond switches from midfield to the right wing of the attack.

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Towering full forward Michael Cussen is one of three changes to the Cork team for Saturday’s NFL Division 2 meeting with high-flying Monaghan at Pairc Ui Rinn. Cussen missed last weekend’s surprise defeat to Cavan after picking up an ankle injury in the previous round against Westmeath. His inclusion at full forward sees Donnacha O’Connor switching to the left corner to the exclusion of Kevin O’Sullivan. The other two changes sees Paudie Kissane come in at right half back for Stephen O’Donoghue, while Sean O’Brien indirectly replaces Owen Sexton. Sexton is ruled out with a hand injury, so utility player John Miskella moves from right half forward to left half back with O’Brien now occupying the number 10 slot.

Cork will be away for the second weekend in succession after Limerick won the toss to host Sunday’s NHL quarter-final. As a result of the toss, the game has been fixed for the Gaelic Grounds and will have a 4.15pm throw-in. There was some speculation that the game would take place in Killarney, but the journey for supporters couldn’t be justified. Cork also lost a toss for home advantage for last Sunday’s play-off game against Waterford. The reason the game will have a later than usual starting time is because Limerick footballers are facing Longford in the NFL at Kilmallock at 2.30pm.