Seán Óg: Time to move on

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín says he is coming to terms with the end of his 14-year Cork senior hurling career and that he has departed the inter-county game content with the contribution he has made.

Rebels boss Denis Walsh axed Ó’hAilpín from his squad for the 2011 season in October, a decision which provoked a strong reaction on Leeside but the 34 year-old is determined to move on and focus on other areas of his life.

"I think it’s no hidden secret now, I’m not going to be involved next year. Whether I agree with it or not, I just have to accept it and move on. Once I know in my own head that it wasn’t me that pulled the plug on it, I’ll move on. Look, that was in October, it’s December now and life is moving on for Sean Óg.

"You’d look back and wonder did you make a contribution because it’s a team sport, it’s not an individual sport. And I’m happy enough that I did make a contribution. So I’ll walk away happy. I saw it as a job but it was a labour of love and I got great enjoyment out of it. The 14 years did go by fairly quickly. But if I had another 14 years, I’d do it all over again.

"I’ll look forward to the other parts of life that will probably open up for me now. I look forward to spending time with the people who have suffered because of my intercounty career. My girlfriend Siobhán has put up with a lot and stuck with me through thick and thin. For once this year we can plan a holiday and actually go away, and not have to think about bringing boots or runners to do a bit of training. As regards work as well, Ulster Bank have been great employers the last number of years, so I owe it to them now to get back to normality and start putting in the hours that are required there."

Ó’hAilpín’s exit was swiftly followed by the departure of his younger brother Aisake, who has returned to Australia and linked up with Melbourne District League outfit Maribyrnong Park.

Sean Óg, who was speaking yesterday in the Ambassador Hotel in Cork where he received the Northside City and District Sport Award for December, revealed that Aisake is relishing his second stint as an Australian Rules player.

"He’s flying it. It couldn’t be going better for him now. He’s in Australia, signed up with a Division 2 side. He’s working away. It was 30 degrees when I was talking to him now over the weekend and he was going to St Kilda beach. Look, he’s happy."