Colm O'Rourke: Struggling Cork deserve home advantage against Kerry in Munster Championship

Colm O'Rourke says Cork are entitled to home advantage for their Munster Championship semi-final with Kerry and expects the county to live up their 'Rebel County’ nickname.

The Cork players and management stated they will only play their 7 May clash in Páirc Uí Rinn, where the maximum possible attendance would be 11,000.

The semi-final was switched to Páirc Uí Rinn because Ed Sheeran is performing at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but the Munster Council then moved the game to Killarney due to capacity concerns.

O’Rourke told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: "People can say this is a mess of Cork’s own making – if there wasn’t a concert in Pairc Ui Chaoimh the game could have been played there.

"But the last time I was there for a Munster final between Cork and Kerry, there was only about 20,000 at it.

"I think Cork are entitled to have the game at home."

While Kerry finished top of Division 1 and are preparing for a league final against Mayo on Sunday, Cork required an injury-time winner against Offaly on the final day to avoid relegation to the third tier.

"Cork have enough of a disadvantage at the moment," said O’Rourke. "They have been struggling.

"Going to Killarney would mean they would nearly be raising the white flag.

"If they’re the Rebel County, I think they’ll fight for their right on this one and have the game in Páirc Uí Rinn.

"Even if there is a bit of a hit on the finances, I think Cork deserve home advantage."

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Cork statement in full

"As players and management our sole focus is on preparing and