Timely arrival of a new force

AN era ended in showery Semple Stadium on Saturday evening, but could it be that another era has begun?

Over the last decade, since 1999, and whenever they have had their act together, this current generation of Cork players have been there or thereabouts in the All-Ireland championship shake-up.

During that period they reached five All-Ireland finals and won three, but during that period also they have endured three major draining confrontations with their own county board.