Kavanagh still yearns for more success

CORK’S wait for All-Ireland football glory was becoming exhausting before last month’s success and the Kavanagh family served as a perfect microcosm of that.

Joe suffered losses in 1993 and 1999 and, after winding up beaten in 2007 and 2009, Derek finally got his hands on a medal at the fifth attempt for the family.

“Surreal is the perfect word to describe after the game. It was just a massive relief to finally win it, both for the county and for my family, after all the losses. You’d appreciate it more now a few weeks later. I had the cup the other day, taking it around to local schools, and we might get it for a night in the club before Christmas. It’s starting to sink in.”