Cork test reserve strength

He bid farewell to the inter-county game in November 2000, three months after his Cork team had been defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final by Offaly.

Twelve years on, Jimmy Barry-Murphy was back in the managerial cockpit, striding out onto the Páirc Uí Rinn pitch shortly before 3pm on Saturday. JBM’s second coming was a modest affair, with only 513 supporters turning out to greet him in the dreary conditions.

His return to the Cork hot seat has generated an expectation of great championship days but the low-key Waterford Crystal Cup was where it began. The first day out was a success on the scoreboard as a Cork team, heavily populated with new faces, overwhelmed last year’s Christy Ring Cup champions Kerry and sets up a semi-final with Tipperary next week.