Last January’s list of players to shine in the year ahead featured Kerry’s Paul Murphy, who would be man of the match in the All-Ireland SFC final. So, no pressure then on these bright young things...

The third annual Reardens Club All Star awards take place next Monday at 7.30pm, with 45 hurlers and 45 footballers in contention to be recognised for their excellence in the senior championships this season.

Until recently, it was easy enough to package these two teams in neatly-labelled boxes.

Cork SFC semi-final

They may have grown accustomed to journeying the backdoor route in the Cork SFC in recent seasons but Ballincollig passed their opening assignment of this year’s championship in powerful fashion at Dunmanway on Saturday night.

Ballincollig claimed the Mid-Cork U21AFC title as they dethroned last year’s champions Éire Óg at Coachford on Saturday.

KERRY had their expected victory over Tipperary in the opening round of the ESB Munster MFC in Tralee last night but it was a close-run thing in the finish as Tipperary banged in two late goals to leave the home side hanging on with just two points to spare.