Ahead of last Sunday’s league final on the always-entertaining GAA Hour podcast, Steven McDonnell and Colm Parkinson came from contrasting schools of thought when it came to predicting a winner.

So, why has there been such an outpouring of generosity and kindness towards Kieran O’Connor and his family over the past few weeks?

The senior hurlers of Cork and Kilkenny form part of an inviting double-header Wednesday evening at Páirc Uí Rinn in aid of the Friends of Kieran O’Connor fundraising drive.

Thousands of people who attended a walk for former GAA footballer Kieran O’Connor have been told that the All Ireland winner will “come out the other side of the long battle ahead”.

For sports columnists in search of topics to write about, there’s always a swivelling quality — swivelling, I said — to the days running up to deadline.

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.

A number of new frontline Cork GAA appointments will spearhead a major five-year plan aimed at reviving the fortunes of Cork football.

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.

Tony Leen on the key details from the new vision for Cork football.

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

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.

Miller a GAA star — even in his civies

Most Cork football people I spoke to after the Munster final said it was the worst ever, writes Paddy Kelly.

One win from two isn’t going to get Ronan McCarthy excited nor would he have been ecstatic had Cork beaten Tipperary first day out.

Cork’s 2010 All-Ireland captain wants to see his county back up their performance against Mayo.

Cork’s 2010 All-Ireland captain Graham Canty has warned people not to read too much into the team’s heartening defeat against would-be All-Ireland runners-up Mayo last summer.

Cork GAA chairman Ger Lane has given tacit approval to an independent company, featuring current and former inter-county players, which is set to begin a round of US fund-raising initiatives aimed at better resourcing the Cork senior footballers and hurlers.

Dónal Óg Cusack will be in the Clare dugout at the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh when the Banner take on Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final, but he hasn’t yet set foot in the revamped stadium. 

For Alan O’Connor, the fire burns as strong as it ever did.

It seems like a lifetime ago Cork football was riding the crest of a wave after winning the All-Ireland title in 2010, followed up by five Munster U21 titles in the next seven years, writes Mike Quirke.

Football is supposed to be enjoyable. A passion you share with your closest friends. At times, it’s the most satisfying thing in the world. Other times, it can be the most painful experience imaginable.

There were several thrilling matches in a weekend of action in Cork.

What has happened to Cork? When the last time you could actually trust the county’s footballers to deliver on the big day? Paddy Kelly knows the issues. “We haven’t had a big scalp in the championship the last few years. Even saying that, we sound like of the smaller counties, but this is a huge opportunity to put that right.”

It’s that sense of unfinished business which keeps Ian Ryan trucking along.

Cork minor manager Brian Herlihy says there is “absolutely no fear of complacency” from his charges ahead of this evening’s Munster semi-final clash with high-flying Limerick.

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

Peadar Healy had several players to thank for securing him his first league win as Cork football manager and not surprisingly, Daniel Goulding was among the first to be singled out for praise.

It was a small thing but it told us a lot.

When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, it marked the culmination of a $24 billion NASA space program. 

Tomás Mulcahy and Larry Tompkins have called on the Cork County Board to reinstate the jettisoned tradition of club champions nominating county captains.

Bantry Blues 2-8 Na Piarsaigh 0-6: Richard Harrington wore the look of a man who just had his shoulders relieved of a heavy load which had stubbornly sat there since the first Friday in May.

Cork football manager Brian Cuthbert has proclaimed himself delighted with the decision of veteran midfielder Alan O’Connor to return to the panel.

Cork must find a different game plan for Mayo

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.

Michael Shields has been facing Kerry sides in Munster finals for 11 years now.

Cork’s dual playing triumvirate have been promoted to the team for Sunday’s Munster final against Kerry.