“It was positive to see we weren't just reliant on one or two lads, everyone stepped up to the mark.”

Kerry must do without Clare native Patrick Kelly for Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup semi-final as the game clashes with his club Clarecastle’s championship game against Clonlara.

Ballincollig 1-15 St Finbarr’s 1-12: Let’s put to one side for a second Ballincollig’s successful opening bout in their county title defence, that much we expected, for the more pressing items emerging from Páirc Uí Rinn were Patrick Kelly’s ongoing struggle with a calf injury and the straight red card shown to John Miskella.

The pain in Patrick Kelly’s calf became unbearable as the Derry game wore on last Sunday, and the Cork forward eventually had to come off injured.