Scale of midfield dominance key to Cork’s final triumph

ONE set of figures leaps off the page when scanning the in-depth statistics from Sunday’s All-Ireland final between Cork and Down.

No-one needed to break down any numbers to come to the conclusion that Cork had won the midfield battle with ease at Croke Park but the sheer dominance they enjoyed in that sector takes the breath away.

Conor Counihan’s men hoovered up over 70% of the kick-outs two days ago, a number made possible by their ability to claim possession from Brendan McVeigh’s boot as well as Alan Quirke’s.