Rebels unleash full power

LAST September, Conor Counihan’s anxiety grew in the closing stages of the All-Ireland final as Cork clung to a narrow advantage and Down pressed hard to draw level.

There was a sense of relief that day when Cork eventually claimed victory but when the teams renewed acquaintances in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night, Counihan was able to relax before the finish.

There was no uncertainty about this result in the finale as Cork’s second-half power play overwhelmed an increasingly beleaguered Down outfit.