Alan Connolly is excited about the prospect of playing under new Cork hurling manager Ben O'Connor.

While lamenting Pat Ryan's departure in the wake of last July's All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Tipperary, Connolly is nevertheless looking forward to a new era under the Newtownshandrum man.

“We would have been happy for Pat to stay on, but to have someone of Ben’s calibre coming in is probably the next best thing," the Cork full forward told the media at an event to promote Blackrock GAA's car raffle fundraiser. 

“I know we’ll be fine with Ben, it will be all good. A lot of younger lads probably played with him (at U20 level). I didn’t now, but have only heard positive things said about him.

“Ben’s obviously an unbelievable player. The respect is naturally there already. He’s someone who’s gone and done it. We’re really looking forward to starting off with him.”

Connolly admitted that the disappointment of losing the All-Ireland final following an extraordinary second half collapse still lingers on Leeside.

“There is always that element that you let people down,” he continued.

“It is not just the fans. You are letting yourself down, more importantly. And then there was Pat, the management, your family. Your family sacrifice a lot the whole year for you to play inter-county. It is tough on them.

“It is tough seeing stuff online as well because none of it was true. That was hard for us. We kind of laughed it off.”

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