Sarsfields v Na Fianna: Jack O'Connor's travel plans just a rumour

Anyone associated with Sarsfields who can make it to Croke Park tomorrow will be doing their best to be in Drumcondra.

And to think that Jack O’Connor could have been on the other side of the world – well, if social-media rumours were to be believed.

After the club’s Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC final loss to Imokilly, word spread that the speedy attacker was set to head off travelling. Thankfully for Sars and Cork, it was not a tale grounded in any kind of truth.

Plans for afterwards, travel rumours, Cork panel etc.
“That was actually a false rumour that was spread by one of the lads,” he laughs.

“I won't be going travelling at all this year. In fairness to Pat [Ryan, Cork manager], he's been letting us off for the last few weeks so that we can focus on the club. I'm sure I'll speak to him after the match on Sunday as regards to a plan.

“But that's not in either of our thoughts at the moment. I'm just focusing on the game on Sunday.”

A mischievous input from O’Connor’s new Cork captain, Robert Downey, led to the rumour growing.

“Yeah, one of the work lads put up a story saying it and it just caught fire,” O’Connor said, “I think Rob reposted it on his story and it just caught fire.

“There were people asking my parents and stuff down in the shop, am I going away and stuff. But no, I’m not going anywhere.”
One place where he wouldn’t mind going is up the steps of the Hogan Stand tomorrow.

Journey from county final defeat to All-Ireland final when Sars take on Na Fianna. Such a destination seemed a long way away after the nine-point loss to Imokilly.
“I suppose, initially, you'd obviously be very disappointed,” O’Connor said.

“Losing a county final is always tough. But watching the game back a few days later, you were kind of thinking that there's way more in us here.

“We felt that we didn't do ourselves justice in that game. A few days after it then before we got back training for the Munster championship, we just said we'd have a go at it and see where it takes us. Here we are now.”
Literally getting there will require more from a logistical point of view than their Dublin opponents, but that’s something to be embraced, too.
“It’s definitely something new for everyone on the panel,” O’Connor said.

“But we’re all so close on the team that it’s just like any other day. You’re spending time with people who you’d spend time with every day of the week anyway.

“It might be difficult for some people, sleeping in a new bed and stuff, but look, I’m sure we’ll handle it.”

It would certainly be a lot harder to handle had O’Connor received a red card rather than a yellow one early in the second half of the All-Ireland semi-final win over Slaughtneil. Did he fear the worst?
“Yeah, it did to be honest, for a second,” he said.

“Only because the Slaughtneil crowd were right behind it and they went mad in the stands. I thought, oh God, they might influence the ref here now. But the linesman saw it thankfully and he said it wasn’t a red card to the ref so I got away with a yellow card but it was a bit of a heart-in-the-mouth moment.
“I wouldn’t even want to imagine that kind of feeling really, missing out on an All-Ireland final for the first time with your club due to suspension.

“Thank God I was on the other side of it anyway.”