Kerry scalp will count for little if Cork can’t progress

Seán Hayes has form in taking down Monaghan teams at this juncture of the All-Ireland U21 championship. What good it’ll do him this afternoon remains to be seen.

“You’re going back a fair few years there,” the Cork U21 manager quips when his own playing exploits at this level are thrown into the conversation.

Hayes was part of the Cork U21 panel from 1979-81, lining out at centre-forward on the team which overcame Dublin to win just the county’s third All-Ireland at this grade in 1980. He was captain a year later when Kerry were beaten by 0-11 to 0-5 in the Munster final at Austin Stack Park.