'It just didn't happen' - Former Rebel O’Rourke on game-time frustration and decision to walk away 

The Carbery Rangers clubman sees an opportunity for John Cleary's Cork to claim silverware in this league campaign.

John O'Rourke said the "style of play was testing over the last few years, especially when teams really went behind the ball". Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Age didn’t come against John O’Rourke. Not at all. He’s still only 32, albeit he does wish he was six or seven years younger so as to have experienced these new rules in his prime. Instead, himself and Jim Gavin’s enhancements ended up being vessels passing after bedtime.

Time is what came against John O’Rourke. Or more specifically, game-time came against John O’Rourke. There wasn’t half enough of it last year to keep him on board for this year. He knew where he stood in the pecking order and so decided to take himself off the ladder completely.