James Horan: Cork players should be bouncing off the walls after this 

Over the last decade there has been a serious question mark hanging over Cork football. Lack of player leadership, stomach for the battle, character and motivation were consistently mentioned. With good reason.

SWEET SUCCESS: Cork’s Seán Powter and Tommy Walsh celebrate after the All-Ireland SFC Round 3 win over Mayo. Picture: Inpho/Evan Tracey

EVIDENCE, and it was needed, in the Gaelic Grounds that the sleeping ‘giant’ that was Cork football may be reawakening. At the very least the graph is going upwards again.

When the final round All-Ireland SFC qualifier was in the melting pot, after Mayo’s Tommy Conroy had stretched their lead to six points, a new group of Cork players displayed courage and honesty to achieve a stirring win.