Seán Óg to call time on Cork?

THE inter-county career of Cork hurling legend Sean Óg O hAilpín may be over, amid growing speculation the Na Piarsaigh clubman has called time on a 14-year career at the highest level with the Rebels.

O hAilpin (33), who captained Cork to All-Ireland glory in 2005, is understood to have made his decision over the weekend following a meeting with the Cork senior hurling management team.

Cork coach Denis Walsh and his management team met with a number of Cork hurlers over the weekend with a view towards planning for the 2011 season.

Further meetings with players are expected this week, sources say.

However, it appears O hAilpín’s inter-count future is already decided.

The wing-back was Hurler of the Year six seasons ago and won three All-Ireland medals (1999, 2004 and 2005) to go with minor success in 1995 and U21 honours in 1997 and 1998.

He has been a talismanic figure for the Cork hurlers under a number of different coaches and was one of the key figures in the strike actions by the Cork panel.

At club level he won county SHC medals with Na Piarsaigh in 1995 and 2004, while he also represented Cork in football at minor, U21 and senior level, losing to Meath in 1999 All-Ireland SFC final, when he played at full-back.

In 2004 and 2005 O hAilpín also played International Rules for Ireland.

He made his debut as a 19-year-old substitute in the 1996 Munster SHC game against Limerick in Páirc Ui Chaoimh when Cork were heavily defeated.

He was an established member of the defence at left-half-back when Cdork won the All-Ireland three years later.