JOE Carroll has warned his league-winning Cork team that rivals will be queuing up to knock the Rebels off their perch, but dealing with this pressure is the next step in their development.

Cork won their first piece of national silverware in seven years when they were crowned Division 1 champions, striking late to defeat Galway 2-8 to 0-9 in the league final.

Inspired by player of the match Melissa Duggan from Dohenys, Cork’s triumph is a milestone moment for a young team that had set its initial league target as avoiding relegation.

But now the Rebels head into the upcoming Munster championship high in confidence.

‘It’s a massive, massive boost for everyone,’ Carroll told The Southern Star.

‘It does give you confidence, and from a management point of view it shows that people are doing the right things and that everyone is buying into it.

‘At the same time, when you’re at the top, everyone is trying to knock you off. Teams will probably know a bit more about us now too, especially with some of the younger players they mightn’t have known much about. But that’s something we’ll have to deal with as we take each game as it comes.’

Cork will look to swell their trophy collection further with victory in the Munster championship, with the Rebels at home to Tipperary in their opener next Saturday, April 25th in Páirc Uí Rinn. That’s followed by a home game against Waterford and an away trip to Killarney to play Kerry.

It’s a testing schedule for Cork, but they’ll bounce into the provincial championship off the back of winning the Division 1 title.

‘It’s going to give the younger girls in particular a good bit of confidence. Cork haven’t won a whole pile over the last two or three years, so this will give the group belief going forward, especially with the championship around the corner.’

Attention now turns to Munster.

‘We have to make sure we’re ready for the first round because it’s three games in three weeks, which is heavy going. When you’re playing week after week like that, it takes its toll.’