LARRY TOMPKINS'S first season as manager of the Cork footballers has got off to a satisfactory start with the team unbeaten in their opening three NFL matches. The league programme is a demanding one with three long haul journeys to Ulster included in the itinerary.

Last weekend's trip to Derry came four weeks after their opening day trip to Donegal and Tyrone must be visited after Christmas before which the team's final fixture is a top of table match with Kildare.

An interesting aspect of the team's travel arrangements at the weekend was that the trip by air to Derry was subsidised out of the Cork footballers' players' pool. This fund was established with money from the team sponsors, Barry's Tea, and used for a variety of items that come under the general heading of benefiting the team. The only constraint is that the expenditure has to be authorised by the county board's finance committee.

It was the decision of the players and management to go to the county board and suggest that money from the pool be used to pay the difference between the cost of making the journey by road and flying. The suggestion was accepted.

That the players volunteered this subvention comes as somewhat of a surprise, given that in a county with similar travel problems, Kerry, the county board pays the cost of transporting the players by plane when the team fly to distant fixtures.

On the field, the match in Celtic Park was a qualified success with Cork taking their second draw out of the north west. Tompkins was happy to have gained a point, particularly at a time of the year when - contrary to public perception - he feels the team is not training very hard.

"We're not doing too much," he says. "A couple of sessions a week, nothing major yet."

This will come as a surprise to those who have noticed Colin Corkery in better shape than he has been seen in even during recent summers.

"Yeah, Colin's making a bit of progress. Basically he's done a little bit himself and is eating the right things. He's a big man and needs to be kept at it."

Tompkins is currently excusing the Clonakilty players as they pursue a Munster title to add to the unlikely county championship they won last month.

"I think it's only fair as they're going all out for the club championship and I won't be asking them until after that. Without a doubt I'll be looking at them then. Their performance merits it. We'll see if they can step up a grade."

With the exception of last year, Cork haven't really gone for the league this decade. Tompkins doesn't appear that pushed about advancing to the knock out stages and has established more modest targets.

"This is a competitive division and all the teams are difficult to beat. All I want is to get as many points as possible and make sure we don't get relegated. Apart from that, the league is important because competitive games are an indicator if guys can't do it at this time of the year, they're unlikely to come through."

Although he is a playing contemporary of many of the players now in his charge, Tompkins hasn't found the transition to management too much of a problem.

"As a manager, you've got to look at the game tactically and how it affects everyone on the panel. It's different from playing, where you concentrate on your own game and how it fits into the system. I respect the players and I think because I have been successful, they will respect me."