Kerry put a foul first period to one side in Tralee Wednesday night and outscored the Munster and All-Ireland champions Cork 0-12 to 0-3 after the break. Impressive stuff.

The Gaeltacht forward was near unmarkable in the second period, winning three frees, one of which he converted, claiming and converting a mark, while also adding two from open play.

Depending on what route you take, it’s a journey of about four hours from John Evans’ native Killorglin to Aughrim, Wicklow GAA’s county ground.

Kerry, though not overly impressive, were rarely troubled in booking their place in next week’s Munster U20 final.

FIRST things first, Keith Ricken wants to make it abundantly clear that it is a privilege to be still involved with the Cork U20 footballers.

AFL-bound Deividas Uosis is listed among the subs.

The decision to shift the U20 championship from its summer slot to early spring means it is now clashing with third-level fresher competitions, thereby increasing the demands on young players at this time of year.

Three-time amateur golf champion and Shane Lowry’s fitness coach, Robbie Cannon, made another name for himself assisting John Sugrue to successive promotions with Laois. Now he’s bringing his expertise to Tipperary’s footballers in their hunt for promotion from Division Three of the Allianz League

For Killian Clarke, it was a matter of changing values.For Donie Kingston, it was simply business.

Tipperary’s senior footballers secured their first win under new manager David Power when they withstood a late rally from a youthful Kerry team in Sunday’s McGrath Cup game in Clonmel.

Put aside momentarily the gulf in strength and game experience between the two sides in Tralee yesterday. Any cursory examination of what Cork started with, brought on, didn’t use — or have away on club duty with Nemo Rangers — would lead one to conclude there’s impressive depth and breadth to the Cork football squad as 2020 looms.

Luckless Nathan Walsh’s injury woes continued Sunday in Tralee as Cork pummelled Kerry’s Under 20’s in the McGrath Cup.

Éamonn Fitzmaurice and Tony Leen ran the rule over both teams alongside Colm O'Connor in the commentary box.

New Kerry U20 football boss John Sugrue has slammed the changes that have been made to the age grade as “farcical”, suggesting the GAA is too quick to respond to criticism when it comes to football.

Munster Council will facilitate the counties who want to play their opening Munster Senior Hurling League or McGrath Cup fixture before Christmas.

Quirke was last night ratified as Laois football manager, with Horan heading up an impressive backroom team.

Munster GAA chiefs want to remove the possibility of a penalty shoot-out at the end of next year’s Munster minor finals, with one Cork official proposing a “more humane” approach to deciding games — which involve teenagers — on the day.

Kerry have decided not to adopt a set voting position on the possible creation of a second-tier football championship in advance of Special Congress, with county board officials given the freedom to vote as they please on October 19.

All-Ireland winning Kerry footballer Mike Quirke will be put forward for ratification as the new Laois manager on Monday next.

Stephen Rochford will replace Joe Brolly on RTÉ’s live panel for this Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC replay.

The Renard man, who runs his own physiotherapy clinic in Portlaoise, brought the O’Moore County from Division 4 at the start of last season to Division 2 this past March.

Midway through the post-match conversation with Ronan McCarthy, a passing Ian Maguire, spotting the handful of dictaphones pressed close to the Cork manager, couldn’t but help himself when bellowing at the top of his voice, “Big Ron is at the wheel”.

Cork will spend the next two weekends in Croke Park after comfortably securing their place in the Super 8s with this emphatic 14-point dismissal of Laois.

Darren Strong brought a decade of service with the Laois footballers to an end in January, but thoughts of the county jersey couldn’t help but continue to invade his thoughts.

Cork football selector Eddie Kirwan has likened tomorrow’s fourth-round qualifier against Laois to an ‘All-Ireland final’.

Laois manager John Sugrue has named an unchanged side for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC fourth-round qualifier against Cork.

There will be a double-header of All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals in Croke Park on Sunday, July 14.

I always get a little uneasy when my thinking is too aligned with the majority.

It’s a big few days for golfer Robbie Cannon, and his life could look much different by next weekend, if results go his way.

Laois manager John Sugrue believes the O’Moore County must improve if they are to prolong their championship summer despite an impressive four point victory over Derry in Owenbeg on Saturday.

John Sugrue admitted that missed chances cost his Laois team dearly as they kept pace with Meath for 50 minutes or so before being badly burned.

The powerful midfielder crashed home a goal in the 31st minute to put Meath into a lead they wouldn't relinquish and his second with nine minutes to go killed the contest.

Not a game to restore your faith in Leinster football.

While Peter Keane enjoyed a successful first league campaign of sorts in charge of the Kingdom, another manager from the depths of South Kerry was quietly going about his business far from the glamourous spotlight of the top division.

Watching Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody’s blunder at Croke Park, the mind was immediately drawn to a recent Mickey Harte comment.

Nine years living in Laois, John Sugrue considers himself naturalised, but after guiding the Leinster county to a second successive

Sugrue has no problem if the game against Louth or Westmeath doesn’t go ahead in Croke Park next weekend, which is now expected.

Despite beating Armagh in the Athletic Grounds, Ronan McCarthy’s side needed Tipperary to pick up a result in Thurles

On the basis that former manager Pat O’Shea and Laois boss John Sugrue are unavailable or not interested and potential candidates for the future like Declan O’Sullivan and Seamus Moynihan aren’t ready, the shortlist to be the next Kerry football manager is just that — short.

A strange affair in Navan.

Dublin 1-25 Laois 0-10

In an era of automatons on elite teams regurgitating messages that have been delivered by the PR boss via WhatsApp, it is refreshing to talk to someone who is comfortable enough in his skin to tell it as it is.