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Fogarty Forum: Tight Cork football bond framed in one photo

Those evocative images taken by Inpho’s Laszlo Geczo of Mallow’s Martin Lucey being restrained should also be remembered for the right reasons.

Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan, physio Cliona O’Riordan and player Brian Hurley intervene as supporter Martin Lucey is restrained by a steward.. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026 - 07:03

John Fogarty

John Fogarty is the Irish Examiner’s GAA correspondent, with unique insights into the action on the pitch and in the Gaelic games’ corridors of power.

“You can see the 80 or 90 Cork supporters that are probably here and have gone into the pitch,” gushed co-commentator and former star Colm O’Neill on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday. “I know some of the stewards are probably trying to get some of the Cork supporters… I think they want to try and mind the pitch.”

For a lot of us, this was the first report that Cork’s humble but able following attempted to join their heroes on the MacCumhaill Park sod after Saturday’s win over Donegal. As they did in Omagh in March when their win over Tyrone confirmed the end of their 10-year exodus from Division 1. As they did in Cavan 12 months before that when they doused a relegation flame.

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