JMB plays down O hAilpin's return
November 18, 2011
Jimmy Barry-Murphy has downplayed the significance of Sean Og O hAilpin's return to the Cork hurling fold.
The new Cork manager recently recalled the 2005 All-Ireland winning captain to the Rebel County set-up after his inter-county career had looked to be over following the decision by former boss Denis Walsh to plan without him last year.
Barry-Murphy is quoted in today's Irish Examiner as saying: "Sean Og is part of an extended panel for training... When we sat down as selectors we felt that on the basis of what was available, he might have something to offer.
"It's not a huge deal as far as we're concerned - it's a training panel, and Sean Og knows, having been out for a year, that it may not be easy for him to get back, but we feel he brings qualities and we'll assess it going forward."
Barry-Murphy admitted that it would be difficult for dual stars Aidan Walsh and Ciaran Sheehan to commit to both the county panels next year due to the huge sacrifices involved in the modern game.
"The dual player situation is awkward in that my experience, or Brian Corcoran's, or Sean Og's, is irrelevant because the back door at club and county level changed the scene totally," he added.
"The number of games and level of preparation required means it's very difficult to do both nowadays.
"Ciaran and Aidan would be phenomenal assets to have - let's be honest, they'd be on any inter-county panel - and we'd love to have them available, but I'm fully aware they're with the footballers. All we'll be doing is keeping the door open and hopefully at some stage they may be available to us."
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