He’s just an interested spectator these days, and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín plans to keep it that way, but from his viewpoint Cork are set up for a positive summer.

Cork will start four U21s in today’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary. How much of a step is it, to go from underage hurling to the big show? asks Michael Moynihan.

It was Paul Murphy who quipped last year that Kilkenny colleague TJ Reid, who sells animal feed in his day job, looks like ‘he’s eating a few of them himself’.

Douglas 2-18 Na Piarsaigh 1-18: An outstanding contest, highlighted by the skill and class of Alan Cadogan, presented a much more positive image of Cork hurling after the flop in Semple Stadium the previous Sunday and fittingly Douglas were the winners in this first-round game in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

John Fogarty looks at 10 goals that while impressive, could have been ruled out on another day.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is to make his first foray into the area of club management following his appointment as coach of Na Piarsaigh’s senior hurling and premier intermediate football teams.

Cork GAA legend Seán Óg Ó hAilpín started his new year in style yesterday, marrying his long-time love in Cork.

It was a strange 24 hours, or maybe 36 hours, for Cork GAA, writes Michael Moynihan.

Offaly manager Brian Whelahan has revealed how Rory Hanniffy played through 2014 with three knee fractures and lined out against Tipperary in the Championship ‘against all medical advice’.

Cork SHC

Half backs are playing - and thinking - very differently to their predecessors.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has dismissed calls for Cork’s Anthony Nash’s free-taking technique to be outlawed, even if he might be lamenting the Rebel keeper’s goalscoring touch this weekend.

Henry Shefflin has revealed he has a growing appreciation of the reasons why the Cork hurlers went on strike in 2002.

Having been rejected once for being too small, Clare’s Podge Collins made one vow — if he wasn’t going to catch ball above lads’ heads, he wasn’t going to get pushed off it either. The season he doesn’t want to end takes another twist today with Cratloe in a Clare football final.

By his own reckoning, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was probably the least skilful hurler to ever put on a Cork jersey — but has there been a more dedicated person to wear it? “That’s what made me survive,” he suggests. Now with his life thoughts put to paper, he’s ready to reflect, without bitterness, without rancour. Anyone looking for sly digs won’t find them here.

Midleton 2-21 Na Piarsaigh 1-06

Former Young Hurler of the Year turned AFL star, Setanta Ó hAilpín, tied the knot over the weekend in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, the last man to captain Cork to an All-Ireland SHC title in 2005, says that how the Rebels cope with Clare's 'extra man' tactic will go a long way to deciding the winners of Sunday's hotly anticipated final.

Former Cork star Seán Óg Ó hAilpín believes Cork will deploy a sweeper in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final against Clare to counteract their opponents’ similar system.

Louth youngster Ciaran Byrne has put pen to paper on a two-year international rookie contract with Australian Rules club Carlton.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín still stands over his recent criticisms of the Cork senior hurlers.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has dismissed suggestions that he may take a shot at a career in politics.

Setanta Ó hAilpín marked his AFL return after almost a year out through injury with a five-goal haul against Melbourne yesterday, but it still wasn’t enough for his GWS side.

Up to 90% of voting GAA Delegates to today's Annual GAA Congress in Derry have backed proposals to stamp out sectarian and racist abuse in the association.

Séan Óg Ó hAilpín says he wasn’t one bit surprised by Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s winter cull of Cork hurling legends.

Former Cork hurling star Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has said he feels his retirement was down to Jimmy Barry-Murphy and his management focusing more on the future than 2013.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice, the new Kerry football manager, recently gave an interesting interview in which he discussed conditioning and physical strength in Gaelicfootball, saying underage players from Cork and Dublin, in particular, were more physically advanced than those from Kerry.

Hurling legend Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has said that the findings of a report on racism and discrimination in Cork are “disappointing”.

Former Young Hurler of the Year Setanta Ó hAilpín has committed to staying on in Australia after his Aussie Rules career ends.

Hard on the heels of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s decision to retire from inter-county hurling, comes the surprising news that his Na Piarsaigh teammate John Gardiner has been cut from the Cork training panel.

Whenever I think of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s many superlative achievements — the journey from Fiji to Cork to the most coveted steps in Croke Park, the All Stars and All-Irelands won and captained, the transformation into corporate gold and cultural icon who transcended the game — it’s his disciplinary record that impresses us as much as anything.

Last week there was something of a ripple about Michael Bent, a rugby player lately qualified to play for Ireland.

Cork legend Sean Og O hAilpin has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

Irish AFL star Zach Tuohy may play for Portlaoise in Sunday’s Laois SFC final against Arles-Kilcruise.

Cork selector Ger Cunningham yesterday praised Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s contribution to the county side in 2012 but is unsure if the former All-Ireland-winning captain will return in 2013.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has yet to decide whether or not to retire from intercounty hurling, but admits a decision will be made soon.

Na Piarsaigh 1-15 Newtownshandrum 1-11

An injury-time point by Ben O’Connor earned Newtownshandrum a deserved draw in this entertaining fourth round tie at Mallow on Saturday night.

John Gardiner has confirmed his desire to keep hurling for Cork in 2013 despite the disappointment of the current campaign in which he found himself relegated to the status of squad player for the first time.

As a survivor from the ’90s, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is well qualified to discuss the changes in hurling in the last 10 years. One significant difference, however, is the number on the jersey. Nowadays it’s meaningless.

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín admits he had to pinch himself after he was selected to start last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford.