Barry-Murphy’s second coming recaptures hearts and minds

The same day the Cork hurlers played their last game under Denis Walsh, the Limerick footballers met Offaly in the curtain-raiser in the Gaelic Grounds.

Offaly would lose but at least they had won a game that summer, unlike the side they beat in the qualifiers the previous week: Monaghan.

You think of where Offaly are now, back in Division Four, and Limerick, well beaten a fortnight ago by the Division Four champions. And look where Monaghan are at. That’s just one measure of the remarkable job Malachy O’Rourke has done.