Morgan believes new faces could be ready to make an impact

CORK got their senior football championship preparation off to a good start with a four-point win over Kildare in Newbridge over the weekend.

The game marked the return of Bernie Collins and, according to coach Billy Morgan, the Castlehaven man did all that was asked of him.

“Two years ago, Bernie opted out of his own accord as he felt he had lost his form. But we kept in touch with him and he was called in as we were without a full-forward for the Kildare game.

“He did a very good job, used the ball wisely, did the simple things well and is obviously an option for us now.”

Circumstances prevented Billy making it to Ennis for the All-Ireland U21 final with Mayo and he was forced to watch it on TV.

“Five of the team are members of the senior squad and, on the evidence of what I’ve seen throughout the U21 campaign, there are a few more who could break into the set up,” he said.

“Chris Murphy and Eoin Cadogan are two I have a particular admiration for, while Paul Kerrigan is another with huge potential. The plan is to bring those lads in and get them used to the training, play them in a few friendlies and see how they go.

“The U21 grade is the ideal shop window for any player with senior ambition. Hopefully we can build on the successes of the past three years and take it on to the senior team.

“When you consider that in the three corresponding Munster minor championships we achieved very little, those players have improved greatly, and hopefully will have a big part to play with the seniors in the coming years.”

Meanwhile Roscommon have been hit with a double blow ahead of Sunday’s Connacht championship clash against New York, with full-forward Karol Mannion and wing-back Sean Purcell ruled out.

Mannion is out with a broken finger and could be out of action for five or six weeks. And wing-back Purcell dislocated his shoulder in a challenge game against Offaly and also faces a lengthy spell on the sideline.

Both players, though, will travel to New York for Sunday’s championship opener at Gaelic Park before going on to a week-long training camp in the Catskill Mountains.