The short-term focus for Éamonn Fitzmaurice is tomorrow’s visit of Clare. The long-term focus is getting back to Croke Park to atone for the catalogue of Dublin defeats which have been accumulating.

History of a sort was made this week when the All Star football nominations appeared for the first time in 10 years without the name ‘Brogan’ attached, but Bernard Brogan believes only one of the famous Dublin siblings has cause to be aggrieved.

YET again violent storms forced the cancellation of all racing in Cork harbour’s and so far three races have been held in the Glaxo SmithKline Beecham Winter Series from the Royal Cork with the final race coming up on Sunday.