GAA:Cork's Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has called time on his inter-county career, with the 35-year-old insisting that this time he intends to stick by his decision. Ó hAilpín had previously retired in 2010, when he was informed he was surplus to requirements by the then Cork manager Denis Walsh.
However, when Jimmy Barry Murphy took charge of the Rebels last year Ó hAilpín was persuaded to re-join the panel and helped the county reach the semi-finals this summer, where they were beaten by Galway.
Ó hAilpín, who will continue to hurl with his club side Na Piarsaigh, also represented Cork in football but it was with the hurlers that he really excelled. He captained the side to the All-Ireland in 2005, one of three Celtic crosses he won throughout a distinguished 16-year inter-county career.
"I wish to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling,” Óg Ó hAilpín said in a statement released by the GPA this afternoon. “This time it’s for good.”
Explaining his previous change of heart, Ó hAilpín explained: "I always felt it was premature to end my career in 2010. It was great to get the opportunity this year to re-establish myself in the team and contribute in a meaningful way to Cork. As I close this chapter of my life, I look forward with enthusiasm to the new challenges and opportunities I may encounter.
"I would like to thank all the players I played,” he added. “I have always taken immense pride in wearing the Cork jersey and representing the county I love. I wish the Cork team the best of luck and success in their future endeavours.”
Meanwhile, the new Dublin football manager Jim Gavin will not be able to call upon Tomás Quinn after the forward also called it a day. Quinn made the announcement on Twitter, saying: “It's been a childhood dream to play for Dublin for last 10 years, but time to go. It was a great journey & I loved every second.”