O’Connor leading the way
He may have had an All-Ireland senior medal warm in his pocket from the previous September but as he approached the 2011 season, Alan O’Connor felt the need to improve. Take control of midfield sectors around the country. Assume a leadership role in the Cork team. The stalwarts that he had looked up to when serving his apprenticeship couldn’t be expected to provide inspiration forever.
He got to work last summer. In Killarney it was the St Colum’s man more than anyone who spearheaded Cork’s second-half revival in the Munster final, dominating the skies and charging towards the Kerry rearguard. When they took to the backdoor route and matched up against Down in Croke Park, O’Connor was excellent once more as Cork dismantled their opponents.
