Former All-Ireland winning captain Ashling Thompson is not currently part of the Cork camogie panel.
Manger Paudie Murray has confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the two-time All-Star has opted out ahead of their All-Ireland Championship opener away to Munster rivals Clare on Saturday.
“Ashling is not with us at the moment. We would hope that she would be back playing, but the likelihood is that she will not be with us this year."
Thompson, a four-time All-Ireland winner, was a regular for the Rebelettes during their National League campaign.
Murray added that he feels his three in-a-row side are chasing League champions Galway this summer.
“We’re third-choice at the moment, in my eyes, to win the All-Ireland. I’m basing this on the league and all the data that our performance analyst Niall Collins has produced for me.
"I don’t think our work-rate was where it should have been during the league. Our ball retention and ball delivery were not where they should have been. We have ground to make up on Kilkenny and Galway.
"Obviously, if Ashling Thompson is missing, that is a major advantage to those two teams. Can we make up the ground on the opposition? We’ve done it in the past.”
