Cork sweat on O Hailpín injury

Former captain Sean Óg O hAilpín could be forced to sit out Cork's All-Ireland SHC third round qualifier against Dublin next weekend.

The experienced defender sustained a hamstring injury at training on Wednesday night and has emerged as a major doubt for the Dublin game at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

O hAilpín, 31, was in excellent form during Cork's Munster SHC semi-final defeat to Tipperary last time out.

If there is any doubt about the Na Piarsaigh clubman in the lead-up to the qualifier clash and with a meeting with Waterford or Galway in the offing, Cork manager Gerald McCarthy is expected to keep him on the sidelines.

Ciaran McGann and Eoin Cadogan are the most likely players to take O hAilpín's place for the Dublin game.

Amazingly and as testament to his enviable fitness, O hAilpín has only missed two championship matches since making his SHC debut against Limerick in 1996.

Injuries sustained in a car crash kept him out of the 2001 encounter with Limerick, while he was suspended for last year's clash with Waterford after his involvement in the 'Semplegate' controversy.