Kilkenny legend Brian Hogan feels Brian Cody’s side will be “too strong” for Cork in today’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
The O’Loughlin Gaels man was speaking to KCLR’s All-Ireland semi-final preview show on Saturday and explained why Kilkenny will advance to an All-Ireland final with reigning champions Limerick in two weeks time.
Hogan said: “I think Kilkenny will have enough to beat Cork.
“If the game doesn’t follow the pattern that Cork want they will struggle and I think Kilkenny will make it a dogfight which will make it hard for a Cork team who can be one dimensional at times.”
Hogan feels that Kilkenny’s intensity will be too difficult for a skillful Cork side who have not won in Croke Park since 2013.
“Cork won’t have faced a team that brings that unrelenting pressure that Kilkenny do so far and we have an aerial presence that Cork don’t have and I think that’s an area that Brian Cody will look to target throughout the game.”
The 7-time All-Ireland winning centre-back is of the opinion that the Leinster champions will need to hit the back of the net if they are to advance to a second All-Ireland final in three years.
“Kilkenny will have to score goals to beat Cork but I don’t think Cork will get space to easily out score Kilkenny. If we find some goals I’d be confident that we’d have more than enough to get by Cork.”