A couple of important firsts for the Cork footballers on Saturday.

A strong third-quarter showing - during which the hosts outscored Offaly by 0-6 to 0-1 - ensured Cork made a winning start to life in Division 3 of the Allianz football league.

The road to Tier 1 salvation will take the Cork footballers to the heart of Division 3 in Longford, by way of Tipperary and Leitrim.

Ciaran Sheehan also makes his first competitive start for Cork in seven years.

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.

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

Flahive, who started each of Cork’s six championship games this year at corner-back, recently underwent surgery to address a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Vladimir Nikitin's attempt to rile an already fired up Michael Conlan ahead of tomorrow night's rematch at New York's Madison Square Garden doesn't appear to be working.

A familiar outcome to the Cork football decider, but the display which gave rise to Barry O’Driscoll holding aloft the Andy Scannell Cup was anything but vintage Nemo.

James Loughrey pondered whether it was worth continuing to play football for Cork. In the days and weeks following their tame championship exit at the hands of Tyrone, last July, retirement heavily weighed on the full-back’s mind.

Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy wanted the county’s Munster semi-final, scheduled for June 1, played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, only for the county board to decree the pitch unavailable due to the Rod Stewart concert on May 25.

Cork IFC: Dromtariffe 3-9 Millstreet 1-10

At least 25 new social housing units will be provided for homeless families after the Capuchin Day Centre provided €5m in funding to the Peter McVerry Trust, with the Pope’s visit providing a surge in donations.

It has been a shocking decade of decline for Cork football and having started it in 2010 as Division One and All-Ireland champions, they finish it as a Division Three side after yesterday’s deserved win in Armagh failed to save them from relegation.

Armagh 1-14 Cork 3-9

Your 60 second report.

After a 33-year wait, Andy Scannell will reside in Togher for the winter after the Barr’s deservedly overcame Duhallow in an excellent and enthralling contest in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday, writes Paddy Kelly.

The last man to lead Duhallow to a Cork senior football title has robustly defended the involvement of divisional teams in the county championship.

Even in death, Emma Mhic Mhathúna would not be silenced.

I am not saying the Catholic Church can solve the housing crisis, but it should show leadership, writes Victoria White

The Pope has paid tribute to the dignity of the homeless as he kissed a baby at a day centre in Dublin.

It is unfair to blame the Pope for the historical treatment of children in all Western societies, writes Victoria White

Cork are 7/2 with the bookies but I wouldn’t back them. I was never involved with Kerry in a Munster final in Páirc Ui Chaoimh where Cork were that friendless in the market. The message is clear: Being competitive and getting within two or three points of Kerry represents progress.

Roscommon 0-17 Cork 1-11: Roscommon promoted, Cork safe. Well, as good as. Cork dropping to Division 3 can only materialise if Meath draw against Louth next weekend and Down overcome Tipp by at least 13 points. Those are two sizeable ifs.

All the big issues that the weekend threw up. 

It’s only February, but are summer line-ups coming into view? A chat with Ronan McCarthy indicates that while the Cork football manager isn’t about to pick his championship 15 now, he does concede things are “starting to take shape bit by bit”.

Well now, this was a turn up for the books. The NUIG celebrations, after five drama-filled minutes of second-half injury-time, told as much.

Sean O’Shea produced another outstanding performance in a memorable week but it was another Kerryman who delivered the dramatic winner.

Brother Kevin Crowley of Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre summed up the plight of some children this Christmas by recalling the words of one boy last year: “Brother Kevin, will Santy know where I am this year? Will he be able to find out where I am staying?”

Pádraig Kearns knew what he was letting himself in for. Mind you, knowing what the task entails doesn’t make the job any easier.

The current reality of Cork football is that they take the wins as and when they come. 

AIB All-Ireland Club JHC final

Sigerson Cup

“In training, they’ll do anything you ask them to do. They’d go through a brick wall for you"

Colm Cooper will have a scan today on his collarbone although it has already been confirmed he has suffered no break to the bone or ligament tear.

EVEN a man with Éamonn Fitzmaurice’s forensic attention to detail will struggle to get an advance sense of which Cork side he’s facing today.