'They are a very resilient bunch of players. There was a lot of soul-searching of course.'

CORK BOSS PEADAR Healy isn’t sure what else he could have done to stop Dublin reeling in his Rebels in Croke Park on Saturday night.

The Dubs came from eight points down to eventually claim a four-point win despite having defender Johnny Cooper sent off late on.

And Healy admits that when Dublin get going they’re very difficult to stop, putting the brakes on them is very difficult to do.

“You have very little control over it, to be honest,” Healy said.

“A lot of it is down to the players, their attitude. Be prepared to work hard. If you are, and if your attitude is right, it will take you a long way.”

Morale was low in Cork ahead of Saturday night’s visit to GAA HQ following an embarrassing 18-point home defeat to Roscommon the previous weekend.

Some feared that Healy’s side were facing another demoralising drubbing against the All-Ireland champions but they acquitted themselves before eventually being overhauled.

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow but the improved performance allowed Healy to remain somewhat positive after the game.

“I am encouraged,” Healy explained.

“And look, we asked the players for a performance during the week, and they gave us that.

“To be fair, they are a very resilient bunch of players. There was a lot of soul-searching of course.

“I’m disappointed because there was an opportunity there to win.

Healy felt that Dublin were much more clinical and their experience clearly showed when the game was there to be won.

“We didn’t get the two points, and you’d have to give great credit to Dublin.

“We had the opportunities at the start of the second-half. We had three chances and they were vital chances.

“That would have kept us in touch. We gave away the discipline at the back as well.

“Dublin scored seven from play in the second-half. They just wore us down and that comes from winning National Leagues, Leinster finals and All-Ireland finals.

They were patient and took their scores. We tended to rush things and got tired at the back as well.

With one win from their opening four league games, against Mayo, Healy is now focusing on Cork’s remaining fixtures against Monaghan, Down and Kerry to ensure his side retain their spot in football’s top tier for next season.

“We are disappointed but there are three championship matches ahead of us now to stay in Division One.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Add us: the42.ie

Battle of Tralee, Waterford clinical – Sunday GAA talking points

It’s Sunday so here are 12 of our favourite pictures from the sporting week