Returning faces a huge boost to Cork footballers' 2023 charge 

Bridging the biggest gap of all to their last Cork appearance was Brian O’Driscoll. Prior to Wednesday’s McGrath Cup opener, O’Driscoll was last part of a Cork team sheet for the 2018 qualifier hammering by Tyrone all of four and a half years ago.

IMPRESSIVE: Brian O'Driscoll of Cork during the McGrath Cup Group A match between Cork and Kerry. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

There were two standout features to the Cork team fielded by John Cleary for the county’s 2023 opener.

The first was the championship look to the starting lineup. Ten of the 15 present inside the whitewash for Wednesday’s throw–in had also begun last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin.