Colm O’Neill gunning for action on Croke Park playground

An admission. Most of us knew it at the time but Colm O’Neill has held his hands up to nudging Donegal’s Éamon McGee for Cork’s goal in the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final. “No comment,” he laughs. “I think I got away with that one alright. The game was probably over at that stage.”

In injury-time and five points down, when O’Neill’s Seamus Darby impression arrived, it did come too late but it was, as the goal against Longford last Saturday week, a reminder of the redoubtable goal-scoring capabilities of the Ballyclough man.

Only in Pearse Park, it was as a substitute after O’Neill lost his starting spot following the win over Limerick. Was his strike from such an acute angle a message to Peadar Healy and his selectors?