Ó hAilpín glad to be tested

FILLING the number three jersey was something of an unusual experience for Séan Óg Ó hAilpín in Cork’s concluding game in the preliminary series of the Allianz NHL against Wexford at the weekend.

It wasn’t as if the full-back position was totally new to him, except that he last played there 12 years ago with the U21 team. Alerted to the situation by manager Gerald McCarthy early in the week — because of the unavailability of Diarmuid O’Sullivan — he explained yesterday that his immediate reaction was one of delight to be getting back into the thick of the action.

“To be honest, I’d play anywhere to get a run-out. The more games I play, the more they will benefit me,” he commented. “The main thing was the result and we are now in the next round of the League.”

The combination of his lay-off and the unfamiliarity with the position challenged him, he acknowledged. It was like a fish out of water for me going back to full-back because I hadn’t played there for years. I am more used to playing wing-back. It’s a totally different position.

“It was a help having John Gardiner in front of me. John knows my game left, right and centre and I know his game inside out.”

Predictably, he welcomed the fact that Cork are being given the opportunity of serious competitive games to help them ‘catch up’ and to assist the squad in their preparations for the championship — of what he referred to as ‘the showdown with Tipperary’ in June (in Pairc Uí Chaoimh in the provincial semi-final).

“Being in the quarter-final means that we could be playing teams who will be in the shake-up for the business end of the championship. And we need to up our tempo to survive against Kilkenny this year.”

Meanwhile, Ó hAilpín expressed delight that Ulster Bank have been named as one of the three sponsors of the All-Ireland football championship. “Being an employee, I know that we have been pushing hard to get into the GAA market. The bank sponsored Down back in 1994 but they were not allowed to put their name on the jerseys (because the championship was sponsored by Bank of Ireland).”

Meanwhile, Wexford’s number one choice at full-back, former captain Keith Rossiter, echoed the sentiments of manager John Meyler that their disappointment at losing to Cork on Sunday was partly compensated for by the fighting display which almost earned them a win. “It was a big lift for us, especially after the Antrim game and the heavy defeat against Kilkenny. We were just dying to get a win in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and we showed that on the field. Hopefully we can build on that,” he said.

While taking heart from the encouraging form of newcomers Colm Farrell and Tommy Dwyer, Rossiter agrees that Wexford need young talent coming through if they are to make a breakthrough in the next year or two.

“We need young lads with a lot of experience of playing in Croke Park who can progress through the ranks. John (Meyler) said to us at half-time on Sunday that we were playing the hurling he wants us to play. We will be trying to maintain that. And we are right behind him.”