O’Connor: We knew Offaly would fight

CORK midfielder Jerry O’Connor says people “fell into the trap of classing Offaly in the same group as Laois” ahead of last Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier.

Cork beat the Faithful County by the bare minimum following a late goal from the midlanders, but O’Connor said recent upheaval in Offaly was bound to bond the county’s hurlers.

“They’ve had their own bother in Offaly, which is always going to bring a team closer together,” said O’Connor. “As for us, it was never going to be easy after the highs of last weekend against Laois — the 10 goals and all of that.