O hAilpíns facing into crucial season

THE O hAilpíns are one of the most renowned sporting clans in the country and the three brothers all face what could be a significant year in their respective careers.

Seán Óg is prepared to continue his commitment to Cork for a 15th season if Denis Walsh wants him, while Setanta looks to build on his rehabilitation in Australia after last February’s infamous training ground bust-up to cement his place in the Carlton line-up.

Aisake showed promising signs at full-forward for the hurlers this term having been let go by Carlton and his older brother reckons that much more will be expected of him next year.

“Next year is a big year for him,” insists Seán Óg. “He has to come out, get the finger out and tell people – including himself – that he has to deliver. After four years being away, there are allowances made for your first year, but he has a year under his belt, he has had the time to have the hurley in his hand.

“Cork needs everyone next year to deliver and not just Sake. There is going to be competition. Aisake was seen as the only target man, the big man inside. With Michael Cussen’s performance this year, he is going to be in the reckoning for sure.”

Cussen is an established member of the football panel of course, while Eoin Cadogan was very impressive when introduced in this year’s All-Ireland against Kerry. O hAilpín knows all about the demands of the dual player and he believes that it is no longer possible to maintain a presence in both codes at the highest level.

“I know Conor Counihan is going to ramp it up next year. He’ll be calling on extra effort from all footballers. Denis only had three months this year to get foundations and structures in place. His job for next year starts now and it’ll need a lot of effort from players.

“Only for Cork hurlers exiting early this year, I don’t think Eoin would have been involved with the footballers. He decided to give it a go when they hurlers went out and why not – it was the wise decision with the hurling commitment out of the way. But with the two peak seasons on at the same time, forget about it.”

As for himself, he took some time off to unwind after Na Piarsaigh’s involvement in the club championships were over, including a trip down under to catch up with Setanta. Now he’s thinking about 2010.

“I reckon when you come to this stage you can’t look forward more than one year. You just take it one year at a time because who knows? To be honest I’m not certain about next year because Denis Walsh has yet to name his panel. You’d be always wary that a manager when he sits down to draft his team for training, you mightn’t be in his plans and that’s fair enough.

“Denis has been going around to every junior, U21, senior club game with his selectors and that’s great. He has to go all over the county to pick the best 30 fellas there. Until Denis sits down and formally puts shape to who he wants… I can start talking about next year seriously if I’m in that.

“When you are in your (early) 20s, your priorities are Cork hurling, but when you get into your mid 20s you start to think about a career so it’s Cork hurling and a career. Then you meet a girlfriend so it’s Cork hurling, career and a girlfriend. After that then other commitments coming into it, you have a lot of things on.”