Ó hAilpín still to decide on his future

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

The Na Piarsaigh clubman is currently preparing for a Co SFC relegation play-off with neighbours St Nicholas, scheduled for October 7, and expects to make a call about his future after that.

“I don’t know, is the honest answer,” he said when asked at the Ulster Bank GAA Force Roadshow in his home club last night.

“My main focus now is getting ready for this club football relegation game. That’s the only activity that I have and then I’m away on a two-week holiday, so it’ll be after that.”

Having been deemed surplus to requirements by previous manager Denis Walsh two years ago, Ó hAilpín is also aware current incumbent Jimmy Barry-Murphy will have a say in whether or not he is needed for 2013.

“A lot will decide on the management team and the players and the panel that they want for next year. It’s well for me to say I’m looking forward to next year and then not get a call, I’d look silly. It’s a massive commitment. It’s only when you get older you realise, 10 years ago I wouldn’t have had the same commitments outside of sport, life moves on. There are other factors like that that have to be considered too.”

The wing-back is looking ahead with optimism, however, after what he deems to have been a positive showing in the campaign just gone, in which Cork lost to Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final.

“I would rather look at it as a success, or at least a stepping stone towards where we want to go,” he said.

“If we hadn’t progressed at least to an All-Ireland quarter-final, I would have taken that as a huge disappointment. We got there and got the result over Waterford – only just, but a win is a win – and we contested the semi-final against Galway, and looking at the final against Kilkenny it made you feel a small bit better. They could easily have won it and it would have been nice to say you lost to the team that won it.

“In terms of the experience the younger brigade would have got this year, that was of paramount importance and I have no doubt that they will have learned bucket-loads from that.”

In addition, Ó hAilpín’s club and county team-mate John Gardiner confirmed at the event he would be available for selection for next year.

“I still have the appetite for it and the hunger for it,” he said. “Once the body is still able for it, I’m going to throw my hat in the ring and see how I get on. Like Seán Óg, you have to consider the other party but I feel that I still have a bit to offer.”