The more things (and faces) change in Cork football

Since Conor Counihan departed as Cork manager almost five years ago, three different managers have presided over 54 games and used 76 players — and not once put the same team out in successive games. Eoghan Cormican crunches the numbers.

This being Ronan McCarthy’s first championship game as Cork football manager, we can’t — and we won’t — accuse him of being inconsistent in his team selection. But when you look at the side he has picked for tonight’s Munster semi-final, and compare it back to last summer, the similarities are few.

Of course, this is nothing new where Cork football is concerned. Well, not since Conor Counihan stepped down as manager in August 2013 and out the door after him went the spine of a settled team which had delivered its fair share of silverware.