When Cork exited the championship in early July, Leesiders’ football interest moved from supporting our own to the ABK camp.

Most Cork football people I spoke to after the Munster final said it was the worst ever, writes Paddy Kelly.

It’s something of an understatement to suggest the early summer optimism surrounding the Cork footballers was well and truly extinguished by Kerry just two weeks ago.

Waking up this morning to re-watch Saturday night’s Munster final, I began to wonder if it was really as bad as it seemed in the flesh at Páirc Uí Chaoimh?

Cork will often end up with as many as 11 outfield players behind the ball, writes Paddy Kelly.

Leaving Semple Stadium in Thurles last Saturday I was filled with renewed optimism that this Cork team have a great opportunity of winning our first Munster football title since 2012. Leaving Killarney yesterday, that optimism had been severely dampened by an outstanding 32-point haul from six-in-a-row chasing Kerry. A reality check indeed, writes Paddy Kelly.