Gardiner ready to give it another lash

John Gardiner has confirmed his desire to keep hurling for Cork in 2013 despite the disappointment of the current campaign in which he found himself relegated to the status of squad player for the first time.

The Na Piarsaigh man was confined to a bit-part role as Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s young Cork side navigated a path through to an All-Ireland semi-final and he sat in the stands for the entire 70 minutes of last Sunday’s defeat to Galway in Croke Park.

He returned to HQ yesterday for a round of promotional duties with his employer Ulster Bank and took a seat high up in the Cusack Stand which provided a panoramic view of the great stadium and the perfect vista from which to look ahead.