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4th December 2015
09:46am GMT

"I'm not concerned about the mileage. The modern footballer is conditioned and rested and has got the very best of support, be it strength and conditioning and medical, nutrition. "I think the longevity of the inter-county footballer, whilst knowing it is attritional, with that level of expertise guys can go. These guys, from what I can see, still have huge hunger. "Age isn't a barrier from my perspective. We saw the likes of Alan Brogan, a quality player that still can do it at 33, 34."Alan Dillon is the only player so far to be rumoured to be close to quitting, but Rochford confirmed last night he expects to be missing Cillian O’Connor for the entire Allianz League due to injury. Mickey Conroy is recovering from an Achilles injury while Andy Moran is also carrying a knock. Rochford also admitted that he will be looking to challenge his players in their pre-season starting in the coming weeks.
“I wouldn’t be saying there’s no chance for guys, it’s really what the next seven or eight weeks will show. “We’re going to take it session by session but, believe you me, guys are going to be challenged over the next seven to eight weeks.”When they instigated a coup to oust Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly, the players did so in search of higher standards. It looks like Rochford may deliver.
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