Three-goal Kelly fires up Cork

The margin separating the teams when they clashed in the 2010 All-Ireland final was wafer-thin but since then the chasm between the footballers of Cork and Down has increased substantially.

Last March in the league Cork had 11 points to spare and last July in the championship Down were 12 points adrift. Those chastening defeats hurt them and the noises emanating from their camp last week spoke of an intent to bridge the gap, with plans to travel down on Saturday to improve their preparations.

But it failed to alter the recent pattern that has emerged between counties with 13 points separating them at the close of their latest meeting.