All-Ireland-winning captain Graham Canty reckons Cork can no longer be considered a top-10 football county — and has warned that breaking back into the championship elite is a far tougher proposition than it was in his heyday.

Section 7 of the 42-page plan to lever Cork football out of its slump is headlined: What Now?

Cork GAA chair Tracey Kennedy has admitted that the county needs “a complete culture shift” in its attitude and approach to Gaelic football.

You can’t say that the GAA isn’t on trend, writes Brendan O’Brien

Former Cork senior football manager Brian Cuthbert has called for the underage development squad model to be reexamined in Gaelic games.

Cork’s All-Ireland winning captain in 2010, Graham Canty, and the manager of that side, Conor Counihan, will form part of a special internal sub-committee in Cork to develop a long-term plan for the progression of football in the county.

Since Conor Counihan departed as Cork manager almost five years ago, three different managers have presided over 54 games and used 76 players — and not once put the same team out in successive games. Eoghan Cormican crunches the numbers.

Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy said the timing of club-only activity on Leeside was “great” from his point of view, but added that the county players were given a clear message to maintain their form on club duty.

Eight years on since Danny Hughes claimed an All-Star in Down’s improbable and glorious run to an All-Ireland final against Cork, he is still angry with football.

Former Cork football manager Brian Cuthbert has proposed an overhaul of the under-age coaching mechanisms in the GAA in which designated secondary schools would become inter-county academies.

It hasn’t always been the way of Cork GAA to sidestep intrigue and personality in the matter of team management appointments, but the absence of both in the speedy confirmation of Ronan McCarthy as the new coach to the senior footballers represents a positive in itself.

At eighteen, Phillip Lahm was a highly regarded prospect at Bayern Munich.

Dave Connell's charges suffered defeat in their opening UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship Elite Round fixture against Scotland, losing 2-1 courtesy of a ninety-fifth minute penalty.

ONE cannot help but feel that Jane Housham is a fan of Kate Summerscale’s best selling The Suspicions of Mr Wicher, in which Summerscale takes a mid-Victorian murder and attempts to create a fictionalised murder mystery story. 

George North will return to Wales' starting line-up for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

An inspired Ruan Pienaar led Ulster to a 35-22 Guinness PRO12 victory over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.

A garda had two fingers stuffed up his nose as he was caught in a headlock by a motorist, and yesterday the accused was put on a 12-month probation bond.

There’s hardly another GAA weekend like it for stirring so many permutations and palpitations... and exaggerations.

Cork U21 and senior footballer Stephen Cronin says former boss Brian Cuthbert shipped too much flak in the wake of last year’s tame championship exit.

England 25 Wales 21: Eddie Jones has calmed England’s Six Nations title celebrations because an even greater prize is within reach as he targets a precious Grand Slam.

For Cork GAA supporters in Croke Park on Saturday night there was a difference in the categories of pain on offer. Do you like your hope crushed early doors or snuffed out with the finishing line in sight?

Over four weeks on, the value of Cork’s opening round win over Mayo in Páirc Uí Rinn has been depreciated greatly, both by Mayo, who have followed it up with two more defeats, and by Cork themselves. 

Wales 19 France 10: Wales moved to the top of the RBS 6 Nations by beating France 19-10 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Warren Gatland has targeted “another step up” from his players on Friday night when they chase a victory over France that would send them top of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16: Connacht’s poor record at the Arms Park continued last evening when they lost their grip on the lead of the Guinness Pro12 to a dogged Cardiff Blues.

The ongoing search for senior inter-county managers is expected to dominate discussions at tonight’s Cork County Board meeting, but no appointments are expected.

John Cleary is not in the running to replace Brian Cuthbert as Cork senior football manager, contrary to reports yesterday.

WALES 23 FIJI 13: Warren Gatland insists he will remain a neutral spectator this weekend — even if Australia hold Wales’ immediate World Cup destiny in their hands against England at Twickenham.

Cork GAA chiefs will not have John Cleary to consider as a potential senior football manager, after it emerged that the All-Ireland-winner declined the nomination for the position.

Cork GAA chiefs have drawn up a shortlist of four names to replace departed senior football manager, Brian Cuthbert.

A highly anticipated Cork County Board meeting last night allowed delegates to air grievances, but the only real development was the announcement of the composition of the committee to find the new county football manager.

Larry Tompkins believes that the next Cork senior football management team needs to be composed primarily of All-Ireland winners.

Our reporter visits the new Cork Prison which is due to open by the end of the year. The cure to chronic back pain can be as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, according to Ireland’s top physio; The Minister for Transport today said he supports the TDs who are the subject of a High Court action by the businessman Denis O'Brien. Here’s today’s lunchtime irishexaminer.com round-up.

The Cork County Board could find itself in hot water with Croke Park after claiming a refereeing decision "quite probably" cost them a Munster title and a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals.