Matters to be resolved.

The Blackrock End wasn’t always so receptive to Paudie O’Sullivan, you know.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy expects to be without captain Pa Cronin, Conor O’Sullivan and Séamus Harnedy for the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B opener against Limerick on February 15.

Sunday is Dr Con Murphy’s 25th All-Ireland final with Cork. Medic, psychologist, confidante, wise-cracker: the West Cork man has a best-selling memoir on his hands — if he ever decides to write it.

Donal Óg Cusack remains involved with the Cork senior hurlers, despite the achilles tendon injury that has ruled him out for the season.

DEFEAT in your first championship outing as captain always hurts. When it’s an ancestral enemy it’s even worse. Shane O’Neill wore the armband for Cork’s loss to Tipperary last month in the Munster senior hurling championship. When the raw edge ebbed away though, he found some comfort.