O’Sullivan dismisses fears of major raft of Rebel retirements

Selector Ger O’Sullivan says he has no fears of a major breaking up of the Cork football team after a second heartbreaking failure to build on the 2010 All-Ireland win.

Following the success over Down two years ago, Cork were dumped out by Mayo at the quarter-final stage in 2011 and, of course, by Donegal in Sunday’s semi-final.

As well as coping with the massive disappointment, a number of the team are approaching the end of their inter-county careers. Goalkeeper Alan Quirke will be 36 in October, utility man Nicholas Murphy was 34 in April, midfielder-cum-forward Pearse O’Neill will be 33 in December, and half-backs Paudie Kissane and Graham Canty were 32 in March and July, respectively.