Returning Jack O'Connor is yet another very viable option for Pat Ryan

The green flag brought O’Connor’s total for the afternoon to 1-3, making him Cork’s leading contributor from play. Not bad going for your first league or championship start since April 19 of last year.

Jack O'Connor celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Waterford.

Nobody had forgotten about Jack O’Connor. But neither was it any harm for O’Connor to offer a reminder of what he brings to the table.

In the 49th minute of Cork’s season-starting win over Waterford, O’Connor collected a pass way back on his own 65-metre line. The speed denied to Cork last summer because of recurring shin splints carried the corner-forward to the opposition 20 metre-line.