Stars puzzled at Seán Óg’s shock exit

SOME of Seán Óg O hAilpín’s contemporaries during his 14 years as a senior hurler for Cork have spoken of their surprise that he is no longer required by the Rebels boss Denis Walsh.

JJ Delaney described the development as “a big shock” while Ollie Canning and Jamesie O’Connor both claimed that the Na Piarsaigh clubman still had something to offer at the highest level.

All three hailed O hAilpín’s contribution to the game as a hurler and a leader, with Canning saying that he left some “classic memories” and O’Connor recalling his relief at being switched off the tight-marking wing-back even if it was to move onto Brian Corcoran.

Delaney has been rated alongside O hAilpín as one of the finest wing-backs of his generation and he led the plaudits as the Rebel legend confirmed that the final chapter of a brilliant career had been written for him.

“That’s a big shock” said Delaney. “I didn’t see that coming. The way he looks after himself, I though he had another few years left.

“I’d say it came as a surprise to him too.

“When you’re playing Cork, Seán Óg was one of the names you looked out for. You know he’s going to be one of their main hurlers you had to get past. Not many lads got the better of him. He’s one of the best hurlers that’s been around for a long time; a clean, honest hurler. I don’t know if he ever got a yellow card, not to mind a red. He kept himself in the best possible shape and was always looking to do his best for the team.

“We played in the same position and you’d be trying to do half as much as he did and if you did, you’d be okay. He had it down to a fine art.”

Canning is another brilliant defender who won’t be playing next summer although the Portumna great made that decision himself.

He points to the increasing demands on players as making it difficult to have the sort of longevity that both he and O hAilpín enjoyed.

“It’s very competitive now at inter-county level and it’s getting harder for some of the older guys to keep going. You can see the age profile is dropping all the time and you can be giving 14 or 15 years away to some guys. But Seán Óg O hAilpín left some classic memories. When Cork were winning All-Irelands, Seán Óg was to the forefront. He was one of their main leaders.

“He was a great man for the big day, a guy Cork could always depend on. Whether the ball was in the sky, or he was attacking it, it didn’t matter. He had all the skills.

“What’s more, he is a real gentleman on and off the field; a decent, sound guy. I got to have a chat with him on a few trips we were on with the All Stars and it was a pleasure.”

O’Connor spoke in similar vein, having had first hand experience of going toe-to-toe with O hAilpín.

“I found him one of the toughest opponents, if not the toughest, that I ever marked” said the former Clare sharpshooter.

“He was a super athlete and in an era when there were a lot of flamboyant wing-backs going up the field getting points but didn’t necessarily defend, he did a lot of defending. He saw that as his primary duty.

“I remember a couple of seasons in ‘97 and ‘98 that I was shifted into centre-forward and I would have been quite happy to make that switch, even if it was onto Brian Corcoran. Brian might concentrate on playing away his own game and leave you to your devices a bit more. You wouldn’t lose Seán Óg easily.

“There has been a certain amount of talk in Cork that there was a need to freshen things up but in 2009, Cork’s best players in the championship were the guys that had been around the longest.

“There had been signs this year that maybe he had lost a yard of pace – it happened to us all. But I still would have seen him as someone that could play a part in the Cork panel and be close to Denis Walsh’s starting 15.”