O’Connor rubbishes claims Rebels are on the slide

Cork forward Donncha O’Connor doesn’t agree with observers who feel the Rebels have slipped down the Gaelic football rankings with the departure of so many veterans.

The Leesiders lost several members of their 2010 All-Ireland-winning team over the winter, but O’Connor is bullish about his side’s chances this season.

“A lot of people might think that (Cork have slipped back) but we’re going on, we’re training away and we see the young lads coming in who are nearly as good as the lads that are gone.