Rock: Cork’s new faces must embrace spotlight

Diarmuid O’Sullivan has been nothing if not consistent. Rake back over the ashes of Cork’s agonising All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Limerick last August and you’ll find the charred remains of newspaper clippings bearing the Rock’s name and his lamentations on the lack of depth in the Rebel hurling panel.

He was far from alone in holding that opinion. John Meyler’s use of his bench that day in Croke Park shone a harsh light on the squad’s reach and O’Sullivan, who doubled down on his concerns in interviews last January, remains sceptical about any remedial work done in the meantime as the championship looms large.