Ó hAilpín will return 'if new manager comes in'

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has reiterated his stance that he would like to play for Cork again, but only if a new manager comes on board.

Ó hAilpín announced his retirement from inter-county hurling last October after he was dropped from Denis Walsh's panel.

Walsh's three-year managerial term with the Rebels came to an end with their All-Ireland SHC qualifier defeat by Galway earlier this month.

The next meeting of the Cork County Board is due to take place on August 16, at which it will become clearer what process is being adopted for the appointment of a manager.

Walsh remains in contention to be reappointed. Chairman Jerry O'Sullivan said that the County Board will be looking "to deal with this as quickly as possible, whether it's a reappointment or a new appointment".

If they break ties with Walsh, it will boost the 34-year-old Ó hAilpín's chances of donning the red jersey again.

"I'd love to get back (playing for Cork). I feel that my body is in good shape still, I still feel I can offer something," he said at Newstalk's 'Off The Ball Roadshow' event.

"It all depends on the new manager coming in, but if he does happen to give me a ring or whatever, I'll talk but I just want to leave it at that, I don't want to make a big hullabaloo over it."

The Na Piarsaigh clubman won three All-Ireland and five Munster SHC titles with Cork, lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain in 2005. He was also honoured as an All-Star in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Ó hAilpín made his last appearance for the county in their All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kilkenny at Croke Park, almost twelve months ago.

"Do I miss it? Damn hell yeah, I miss it an awful lot," he conceded.

"After being involved for 13 or 14 years, it's not something that you can turn off like a light switch, you become institutionalised to a certain extent.

"Do I miss the obituaries like those that were written after Cork lost to Galway? I don't miss that whatsoever, having to be scrutinised. At least I couldn't be blamed!

"In fairness when Denis Walsh said to me, 'You're not part of my plans, I'm looking at starting anew', looking at the players he's brought in, he has been consistent in his message to me.

"I don't agree with him, but going into a one-on-one meeting with him, he is the gaffer, you have to accept that."