Barry-Murphy hands Ó hAilpín midfield role

Jimmy Barry-Murphy has included Seán Óg Ó hAilpín in the Cork team to face Waterford in the Allianz Hurling League Division IA clash at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Ó hAilpín, the 34-year-old Na Piarsaigh clubman, has been handed a starting role in midfield having been brought back into the Cork fold by Barry-Murphy at the start of the season after being dropped from the squad by previous manager Denis Walsh in 2011.

The three-time GAA All Star, who was drafted into the Cork panel by Barry-Murphy in 1996, made the number seven jersey his own between '96 and 2010, but moves out of defence and into midfield on his return to the Rebels' side. 

"I did say to him that we didn’t bring him back to babysit young players or to mind them - he's a player himself," Barry-Murphy said of Ó hAilpín at this week's Allianz League launch in Croke Park.

"But the example he shows in the dressing-room and in his preparation rubs off on other players and I think he has a very big part to play still.

"I think only time will tell if he can play at the highest level again, he knows that himself. But I would be very confident that he can, it certainly won't be from a lack of preparation or fitness."

Barry-Murphy, back for his second stint as Cork manager, has handed senior debuts to Ross Cashman and 2011 minor star Darren Sweetnam at centre-back and midfield respectively.

Goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack captains the side and, interestingly, along with Ó hAilpín and Ben O’Connor, is one of three survivors from Barry Murphy’s last competitive game in charge of the Rebels, against Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final way back in 2000.

The veteran trio add experience to a relatively young side, which features up-and-coming Midleton star Conor Lehane at wing-forward and William Egan and Stephen McDonnell in defence.

Niall McCarthy, Cian McCarthy and Eoin Cadogan are all ruled out through injury.

Cork (SH v Waterford): D Ó Cusack; B Murphy; S McDonnell, S O’Neill; J Gardiner, R Cashman, W Egan; S Ó hAillpín, D Sweetnam; C Lehane, P Cronin, C Naughton; P Horgan, P O’Sullivan, B O’Connor.