Why anonymity suits the Cork footballers just fine

THEY’VE been pilloried in the media, largely ignored in their own backyard and forced to accept that they’ll always play second fiddle to the county’s hurlers – but all that suits the Cork footballers just fine, according to a revealing insight published today.

Cork attacker Conor McCarthy, writing in today’s All-Ireland final special in the Irish Examiner, traces the development of this side back to 2004, and says that despite the number of Croke Park disappointments since, the players retain huge pride in what they do.

McCarthy, who is not part of the panel at present, admits that some of the criticism of Conor Counihan’s side has been “brutal”, but explains: “This is probably one of the most intriguing things about the Cork panel. The opinions that have been formed don’t worry them. Anyone who knows them well will testify to the fact that it’s not an issue.”