Patrick Kelly: Football's new rules suit the Blues but Kncknagree will bring a crumb of Kerry to Cork's top table

When St Finbarr's hit the psychological wall, they were carried over the line by their bench press with all contributing. Meanwhile, Knocknagree will be dining at Cork's top table in 2026 - and won't be out of place

POUNCING: St Finbarr's' Steven Sherlock gets to the breaking ball ahead of Kieran Histon of Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Dan Linehan

IT was a weekend of copious Jim Gavin references, but his influence was as undeniable as it was palpable in Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday as the FRC's bold initiatives sprinkled Cork's football finals with an extra spice. 

I had my slight reservations about the new kickout rule with the ball having to travel beyond the 40 meter arc. I feared it would limit the variety of kickouts with short to mid-range now extremely risky - hence, leading to a singular type of restart - the long bomb into heavy traffic. While it has increased the percentage of long kickouts, the value of the spectacle of high contests is worth its weight in gold.