Forward-thinking no problem for Rebel giant O’Neill

IN MOST counties, the man in charge would take one look at Pearse O’Neill and decide, there and then, this guy will anchor midfield come hell or high water.

Cork aren’t most counties. O’Neill might stand 6’ 5” and weigh 16 stone, but Nicholas Murphy is as tall and Alan O’Connor only gives him an inch, which is one reason why Conor Counihan can afford to use O’Neill as a centre-forward.

Size, of course, isn’t everything. Another contributing factor behind the Aghada man’s new job description is that all three are fine players and the juggling of resources has served the side well. O’Neill would not match a composite sketch of most people’s archetypal centre-forward. No, that would be someone like Declan O’Sullivan or Brian McGuigan. Men who are shorter in size, if not stature.