Rebels have reasons to be cheerful

Cork 0-16 Kildare 1-12

A pep in their step too for the 2,648 paying customers at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday, most of whom came away thinking yes, Cork’s football regeneration is being piloted in the right direction.

Good enough to displace Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Tyrone on football’s imagined medal podium? It’s early, and Cork football specialises in false dawns, but you could certainly argue the case. Freshmen Conor Dorman, Donal Óg Hodnett, Alan Cronin, Brian O’Driscoll and Cathal Vaughan are already creating the sense that Cuthbert’s options are broadening by the week. Whether it’s an illusory sense is yet to crystallise — but given that Colm O’Neill, Michael Shields, Eoin Cadogan and Aidan Walsh are yet to be added to the mix, Cork have robust grounds for expectation.