CORK FOOTBALLERS KILLIAN O’Hanlon and John O’Rourke have announced their retirements from the senior inter-county game ahead of 2025, while the Rebels will also be without Steven Sherlock and Damien Gore who have opted to take a break from the panel next year.
Kilshannig’s O’Hanlon, 31, made his senior debut for Cork in the league in 2016 and earned his first championship minutes a couple of years later.
O’Hanlon’s recent seasons with The Rebels have been injury plagued, with an ACL tear causing him to miss out on the 2021 and 2022 seasons while a hamstring injury hampered him in the season just gone.
Carbery Rangers man O’Rourke, 32, is one of the veterans on John Cleary’s panel having debuted for Cork as far back as 2013.
St Finbarr’s man Sherlock, 27, is taking a year out having been primarily used as a substitute in recent seasons, albeit he started Cork’s final championship group game against Tyrone and the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final meeting with Louth, both of which ended in defeat.
Gore of Kilmacabea is also taking a year out. The 25-year-old has been involved with the senior panel since 2019, when he won an All-Ireland U20 title.
Can’t blame Steven sherlock for opting out. The disgrace that is modern day football means that our best forward doesn’t get a game because he can’t double up as a full back every 5 minutes or so.
Really doesn’t bode well with Kevin Flahive also travelling. Thought the squad had a good chance of promotion this year too.
@Sven O: none of them are starters and Sherlock is the only one that will be missed
@Sven O: cork no chance next year
@Alan Moloney: Alan no chance of posting an original comment next year (and beyond).
@John Buckley: Flahive was a starter and O’Rourke and O’Hanlon were both subs. Weakens the overall squad. With Blake Murphy already walking away the depth chart is getting very light. And how much will Corbett miss next year after doing his ACL.
@Alan Moloney: galway
Oh no, 5 players who helped win nothing won’t be there to help win nothing again next year. This can only be a good thing
@mickey mac: can’t wait to see your list of honours. Full cabinet Mickey?