Counihan savours the moment

EVEN amidst the euphoria of ending Cork’s two decades of football misery, Conor Counihan still exuded considerable poise and calmness in Croke Park after yesterday’s All-Ireland final triumph.

Since being part of the team that claimed honours in 1990, he has gained an acute awareness of the suffering the county has experienced on the national football stage.

In the 1993 final he was involved as a player when Derry toppled Cork, in 1999 he was a member of the backroom team as Meath proved the conquerors, in 2007 he was in the role of a fan as Kerry crushed the Rebel dream and last year Counihan patrolled the sideline as manager when Kerry proved too good once more.