T HE fact that the entire 2008 panel spent the early part of the season in exile didn't militate against Cork's championship prospects last year.

That's the opinion of Denis Walsh, who was installed as the new team boss towards the end of the 2009 league campaign. "I don't believe it mattered at all, and I think the importance of pre-season training is overstated, to be honest.

"I mean you can't start until the first of January, and, more often than not, the weather curtails the amount of work you can actually do. The only disadvantage from my perspective was that I would have had the chance to get to know the players a bit better had I been there from the very start.

"When I was appointed shortly before the championship, I had no idea what players were going well and what players weren't going well, and I suppose I didn't have a lot of time to pick up on that. But I wouldn't be using it as an excuse, and I certainly don't go along with the suggestion that the lack of pre-season training and the late start by the players came against us further down the line," he revealed.

Walsh is looking forward to the new season, and he is optimistic about Cork's chances of making an impact in the league which swings into action next Sunday when Offaly will provide the opposition in the opener. "I'm expecting a tough game from Offaly, they have had a few runs in the Walsh Cup recently, while they have fellas coming through from UL and UCD who should be in good shape. They have added a few new players to the panel this year, so I expect them to be fairly strong."

Walsh steered Cork to a decisive win over Offaly in an AllIreland qualifier last year, but he insists the 13-point gap between the teams doesn't paint a true picture of how the game went. "We beat them well in the end, but the scoreline was deceptive, and we were flattered by our winning margin. We were in right trouble for the first 25 minutes, and Offaly could have had two goals before we got one just before half-time which changed the complexion of the game."

Looking ahead to Sunday, Walsh says that the management will be picking as strong a team as possible, adding that a couple of newcomers could be given a chance. " We will be looking to win every game in the league, because it's all about building up a bit of confidence at this juncture, and there's no better way of doing that than by winning matches.

"We're in good form after last week-end's challenge against Waterford when we gave most fellas a run, and I believe the potential is there to challenge for honours this year. It's important that we get a bit of momentum going in the league, but the way the competition is structured now you could find yourself in trouble if you lose a couple of games early on.

"Hopefully, that won't happen, and if we get any sort of a decent start, I think we will be there or thereabouts. There is no shortage of players with experience and leadership qualities in the team, and there is a fair bit of youth there as well now.

" When you add all those things together, it leaves you with a fairly strong hand," concluded the St. Catherine's clubman, who, as a player, won a league medal with Cork in 1993.