Rebel star Fraggy reaping the benefits of positive thinking

LET’S get something out of the way quickly, clear up some confusion: there are two Kieran Murphys on the Cork hurling team, Kieran Murphy of Erin’s Own and Kieran Murphy of neighbouring club Sarsfields.

We can go on calling them Kieran Murphy Erin’s Own, and Kieran Murphy Sars, all a bit long-winded and cumbersome, or we can keep it simple – Hero and Fraggy. Hero is the big guy from county champions Erin’s Own, Fraggy is the smaller, more compact figure in the corner.

It’s not just their names that these two have in common, however; neither were among what would be considered the untouchables on the Cork team for the past four very successful seasons (two All-Ireland titles, two runners-up spots), Hero really only joining the party in the last two years, just as Fraggy was going off the boil.