Counihan praises Rebel spirit

IT has been over four months since that crushing All-Ireland final defeat but the Cork footballers returned to competitive action for the first time yesterday with the sort of performance that oozed character and determination.

Considering the venue, the opposition and the lack of game time, this was a standout display by Conor Counihan’s men. Alan Quirke, Graham Canty and John Miskella had been ruled out due to injury early last week and the visitors were hampered still further by subsequent knocks to Alan O’Connor, James Masters and Derek Kavanagh and Noel O’Leary’s unavailability.

That said, it was still a strong squad that Counihan brought north with him yesterday, one with eight of the CIT players who played in the Sigerson Cup last week, as well as UCC’s Michael Shields.