Have Cork got that special reserve?

THE MOUNTAIN top may be in sight, but there’s plenty of hard climbing to be done yet. Cork’s ousting of Kerry in last month’s Munster semi-final has pushed them front and centre in the All-Ireland football betting markets, but it’s also exposed them to closer and more unforgiving scrutiny.

If recent All-Ireland winners have reinforced anything, it is the importance of championship aspirants possessing a 30-man panel brimming with strength. Tyrone boss Mickey Harte shrewdly sprung artillery off his bench last season, with their All-Ireland final success featuring key inputs from substitutes Kevin Hughes and Stephen O’Neill. Both Jack O’Connor and Pat O’Shea sprung Tommy Griffin, Darran O’Sullivan and Sean O’Sullivan effectively from reserve to aid All-Ireland wins in 2006 and 2007.

So how are Cork’s resources equipped in that regard? It may have been a fault that cracked their challenge in the past, but former Cork boss Larry Tompkins feels the current squad has a greater depth to it.