Jamie’s red badge of courage

Cork play Kilkenny this evening in a senior hurling challenge in Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm), but the dominant narrative isn’t Cork’s preparations for the league final, or Brian Cody’s integration of new faces into the Cats’ set-up.

The game has been organised by the Friends of Jamie Wall, a group raising funds for the former dual Cork minor and U21 player paralysed by a spinal abscess.

At a time when the 23-year-old should be focusing on his chances of progressing to either the Cork senior hurling or football team, he’s occupied with rehabilitation and physiotherapy.