The hottest nightspot in town

PÁIDI Ó SÉ was on a spit and Kerry were roasted, but amid the cackle of electricity that reverberated around Páirc Uí Rinn, the only real winner from last season’s opening night floodlit extravaganza in the Allianz Football League was the coffers of Cork’s County Board.

As a barometer going forward into the 2004 season, tonight's resumption of hostilities between Cork and Ó Sé should be more reliable.

Seldom has a Kerry side arrived for a competitive fixture in a more dishevelled state than to Cork last season. Páidi Ó Sé stepped off a plane from Cape Town with his players, reeling from the effects of print and pints.

Fionan Murray and Colin Crowley made Kerry pay on the field and with some Cork supporters dressed as gorillas, the whole affair had a surreal, theatrical feel to it. It was great fun, but it told us nothing.

Cork's championship challenge died fast and quiet in Roscommon, and by the time Larry Tompkins announced his resignation as manager, no-one outside West Cork cared.

To many football observers, Cork had become second-class citizens, the Aston Villa of gaelic football second city inadequates living on counterfeit reputations.

Cork GAA chairman Jim Forbes expects over 8,000 for tonight's meeting with Westmeath, and it won't be the nocturnal novelty nor the chance again to bate Ó Sé that will attract the faithful.

Billy Morgan is back, and with him comes a sense of expectation. He has selected a balanced, structured 15 for tonight's test with square pegs in square holes and it will be a test against a side which has found its match legs for the season already.

The competitive edge in Morgan would like to win every League game, but if his campaign concludes with a settled squad for the Championship, that'll do fine. Games against Kerry, Dublin, Tyrone and Mayo should certainly tell the manager how big his task is and how radical the surgery may have to be. If his first competitive selection is anything to go by, a massage more than a makeover is all that is called for.

Though he's been involved in management with Nemo Rangers or Cork almost continually since 1972, there's a feeling of newness about the Cork set-up. Players have spoken of a new edge in training, a lighter mood. Morgan, too, feels like the new boy in town, but his preparation and attention to detail are the same as ever.

"I don't really know this bunch of players very well, so in that sense, it is a freshening up for me. I've come in to look at the existing panel and see where it needs extra options. I would like to think there's a sense of balance about the team for this game, but we won't be making rash assessments either."

That's for sure. With five Nemo Rangers players on the starting side, Morgan is opting for his tried and trusted lieutenants watch too for the fast-tracking of another, defender Gary Murphy, who has been one of the county's best club wing backs in recent seasons.

Though Derek Kavanagh's positioning at full-back has stirred some discussion, few see it as a gamble by Morgan, who enjoyed his side's buffeting by Wexford in a challenge last weekend. "It was just the kind of game we needed," he said.

Castlehaven's Dermot Hurley joins Nicholas Murphy at midfield, but that aside, Morgan is not in the business of long-odds dockets. He is the classic means-to-an-end decision-maker.

Though he enjoys the floodlit experience, he is quick to point out that it will be no help come Championship time. That said, he has already had a challenge under lights against Clare in Páirc Uí Rinn as preparation for the three home league games against Westmeath, Mayo and Longford.

"A good League will give the players a positive attitude going forward. We're a bit behind Westmeath, who've had four competitive games already, three of them close affairs. But the positive thing is that our lads appear very willing and hungry and the attitude has been outstanding.

"Derek (Kavanagh) has all the attributes to make an outstanding full-back, and he has a good deal of experience there, while (Dermot) Hurley is big, great in the air and has a great engine. I'd expect both to do well."

Hurley's Castlehaven colleague Colin Crowley started and finished last year in deadly form, and Morgan is quick to point out that he caused Marc Ó Sé a lot of problems in the Munster club tie against An Ghaeltacht at the tail end of last year. His development will be monitored closely, as will his colleagues in the full-forward line, Bernie Collins and Philip Clifford.

Morgan admits he may have to do a double take tonight to convince himself that Páidi Ó Sé is not wearing green and gold, and his old adversary is expecting the travelling contingent to number over 3,000.

However a cursory glance at Cork's line-up was enough to convince Ó Sé he may leave Páirc Uí Rinn pointless again this year. "They've picked a very strong side, especially the half back line is there a better trio than Sexton, Canty and Martin Cronin around at the moment?" Ó Sé wondered.

The Westmeath boss will give Fergal Wilson every chance to prove his fitness, but if he fails to make it, Michael Ennis will continue in the role, having occupied it in last Sunday's O'Byrne Cup final against Meath.

The side shows one change from that which started against Meath, Brian Morley coming into the defence in place of Damien Gavin.

CORK: K. O'Dwyer; Sean O'Brien, D. Kavanagh, A. Lynch; E. Sexton, G. Canty, M. Cronin; D. Hurley, N. Murphy; A. Cronin, M. O'Croinin, M. McCarthy; P. Clifford, B. Collins, C. Crowley.

WESTMEATH: A. Lennon; J. Davitt, D. O'Donoghue, F. Murray; B. Morley, D. Kilmartin, D. Heavin; R. O'Connell, D. O'Shaughnessy; F. Dardis, AN Other, A. Mangan; J. Fallon, P. Martin, D. Glennon.