MacMahon happy to get chance to build up fitness

WHILE the Cork team that beat Limerick in the McGrath Cup on Sunday was bolstered with the addition of a few All-Ireland medal-winners, it was still a fairly inexperienced side.

As with two years ago, when the Rebels won the competition, manager Conor Counihan is aiming to use the cup as a laboratory for bigger tests later in the year, with the likes of Denis O’Sullivan, Richard O’Sullivan and David Goold being given a chance to shine.

Of the 15 that started in the Gaelic Grounds two days ago, five — Ger Spillane, Alan O’Connor, Kevin MacMahon, Eoin Cotter and Fiachra Lynch — were part of the Cork 30 for last September’s All-Ireland final, though the latter two have yet to start a senior championship match. None of other trio went on the team’s end-of-year holiday to South Africa recently, but Kevin MacMahon, who scored 1-1 in the 3-11 to 0-12 win against the Shannonsiders, is happy to be playing football right now. “Definitely, you want to get the fitness up at this time of year,” he said. “Playing now means that you can build up a bit of sharpness which can allow you to hopefully make an impact.”