Standing at the top of the stairs outside of the administration offices in the pavilion at Páirc Ui Rinn last Saturday night, Jimmy Barry-Murphy cut an acutely frustrated figure.

He had just witnessed his Cork side be, in essence, overawed by Kilkenny in the opening round of the Allianz NHL Division 1A.

And it was plainly obvious he, like so many others on Leeside and further afield, had expected the contest he had just seen to pan out far differently than it did.

Cork were supposedly the haves and Kilkenny the have-nots, on this particular occasion such was the high volume of first-choice personnel, particularly in attack, that Brian Cody had to field without.

Nevertheless, it was JBM that was left contemplating the potential hardship of struggling in the division thereafter and not his counterpart.

Barry-Murphy answered journalists’ questions with his storied grace however there was a greater bite in his tone than is otherwise usually the case.

Is it possible one of Cork’s most legendary sons had a realisation, at some point between half-time and fronting up before the fourth estate that the distance between his side and the benchmark unit Kilkenny is greater than initially perceived?

Cork's Conor Lehane and Kilkenny's Brian Kennedy in action last Saturday.

Since JBM stepped back into the managerial breach with Cork the side’s capacity to be competitive has risen to the point the Leesiders are contesting for titles again.

However, allowing for the expectation levels traditionally by the banks of the Lee, true progression from competing in the All-Ireland final and replay of 2013 and capturing the provincial title last year is simply this: lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Yet, are those expectation levels realistic?

Or is it possible Cork have reached a double-glazed glass ceiling which they simply cannot break through?

Cork battled hard, but it was not enough against Kilkenny.

Tomorrow night, in Páirc Ui Rinn again, the Rebels tackle Clare in the second round of the league, in a game, incidentally, they might well shade.

However, thinking longer-term this season, it is still difficult to foresee JBM’s side bridging a gap that dates back to 2005 and become September kings again.

Kilkenny exposed Cork’s inability to really crank up pressure on opposing teams when matches are there to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

Those within the camp will argue that is exactly what the players did against Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year.

Nevertheless, last Saturday night reminded us and probably even JBM himself given his post-match demeanour that such an occurrence while challenging for the Munster SHC crown may be the exception to a growing rule.

It might have dawned on JBM during the initial dissection process of Kilkenny’s two-point triumph that Cork possibly lack a commodity the Cats have an abundance of; individual and collective leadership qualities.

Essentially, if Cork are to return September silverware to Leeside this year, the players need to start digging far deeper than they have been in search of the brazenness that sets the likes of Kilkenny apart from the chasing pack.

Otherwise, the natives’ restlessness will continue to increase.