When Cork football rolled out its 2024 vision document last month, it was generally applauded how pragmatic its proponents like Graham Canty were by acknowledging that Cork were now outside the top 10 teams in the country, in truth, a mid-table Division Two side, and a distant second in Munster.

It might only be the McGrath Cup, but the Cork footballers, for a variety of reasons, would be best served by ensuring the pre-season silverware is perched at the front of the team bus when it pulls out of Willie Clancy country tomorrow afternoon.

The Cork team to play Clare in the McGrath Cup Final on Saturday at 2pm, has been announced.

Cork will meet Clare in the McGrath Cup final this Saturday after comfortably dismissing Limerick in today’s penultimate round clash at a venue which had neither a stand nor a scoreboard.

Cork football manager, Ronan McCarthy, has welcomed Donncha O’Connor’s decision to stay on with the Rebels, saying the Ballydesmond man can still contribute on the field of play.

The bullish chap that he is, Seán Powter has no hesitation in proclaiming that promotion from Division 2 is the short-term goal for Cork footballers this year.

The returning David Moran is one of five changes to the Kerry side for today’s McGrath Cup final clash with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds (3pm).

Kerry will meet Limerick in the McGrath Cup final after the Kingdom comfortably overcame Cork this afternoon.

Kerry will field eight starters from last September’s All-Ireland final loss to Dublin when they open the Allianz Football League Division 1 against Dublin in Croke Park tomorrow night (7pm).

Cork 3-6 Reardens All Stars 1-6: The bad weather spoiled this inaugural challenge match between the Cork seniors and an All Star club selection in Clonakilty yesterday.

McGrath Cup - Clare 0-12 Kerry 0-9: Paul Galvin will not be returning to the Kerry football set-up for the season ahead, manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice confirmed yesterday evening.

I still chuckle at the story of the (All-Ireland-winning) inter-county team management who decided to spring surprise car inspections on players rolling into training, writes Michael Moynihan.

It’s a cliche to say that a county needs a win, but that was truer than usual Saturday night in Dungarvan.

McGrath Cup Final

Waterford will face UCC in the McGrath Cup final at Fraher Field, Dungavan on Saturday (6pm) following their shock victory over Cork last Sunday in Clashmore.

Waterford Footballers pulled off a rare win over Cork, to advance to the McGrath Cup Final against UCC, after an 0-8 to 0-7 win in front of 337 spectators in Clashmore this afternoon.

While allowing fringe players the chance to impress, the McGrath Cup is also fulfilling a practical purpose for Cork senior football manager Brian Cuthbert.

Cork manager Brian Cuthbert believes the enjoyment has gone out of the game for players due to the massive commitment they have to put in.

Kerry and Cork will face off in the latest instalment of an epic rivalry this Sunday at Austin Stack Park with the home side in need of a win to have any chance of progressing to the league semi-finals.

If you read the Eamonn Fitzmaurice interview in these pages last week, you enjoyed a terrific insight into what it means to stand on a sideline with a day-glo BAINISTEOIR bib on your back.

Cork hurlers welcome a new face to training tonight footballer Aidan Walsh finally linking up with Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s squad after months of speculation.

After two one-sided games in the last fortnight, Cork boss Brian Cuthbert was glad of a competitive outing in yesterday’s McGrath Cup final against Kerry.

Turkey shoots and counties boycotting the tournament outright: What purpose does the McGrath Cup serve?

Kerry selector Mikey Sheehy believes the team are still trying to catch up with the likes of Dublin and Mayo in the strength and conditioning stakes.

Cork forward John Hayes says the Rebels are keen to experience a competitive outing next weekend to put some of new manager Brian Cuthbert’s ideas into practice.

Mayo 0-15 Kerry 1-06

Michael O’Donoghue and Jack Sherwood will both make their league debuts for Kerry in Castlebar tomorrow.

Kerry 1-12 Tipperary 1-05

McGrath Cup Final: Tipperary v Kerry

Kerry’s team for tomorrow’s McGrath Cup final against Tipperary at Seán Treacy Park in Tipperary town shows four changes from the side that defeated Limerick in last week’s semi-final.

It’s going to be a busy weekend for Kerry senior football manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

Kerry 3-17 Limerick 1-11

Kerry had a comfortable passage through to next weekend’s McGrath Cup final as they beat Limerick 3-17 to 1-11 at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Long-serving Kerry defender Marc Ó Sé has been singing the praises of Cian O’Neill, the Kingdom’s new physical trainer.

Paul Honohan has become the latest Cork footballer to suffer a knee injury.

ONLY 29 days have elapsed in the first month of the 2012 season and the Cork senior footballers got their hands on silverware at the Clonmel Sportsfield yesterday.

Cork 0-13 Tipperary 0-6

Cork boss Conor Counihan has made six changes for next Sunday’s McGrath Cup final against Tipperary in Clonmel from the side that overturned CIT in last weekend’s semi-final.

CORK easily booked their passage to the McGrath Cup final at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday, a greater intensity playing a big part in their 16-point victory over Cork IT.