Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
Encyclopedia
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish
-Fiji
an sportsperson. A former dual player
, he currently plays hurling
with his local club Na Piarsaigh
and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland
title in 2005. His brothers Setanta
, Teu
, and Aisake
are also notable sportsmen.
, 646 kilometres north of the main Fiji
islands to Seán Ó hAilpín, an oil-rig worker and a native of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland
, and his wife Emilie, a hotel worker and a Rotuman
. The eldest of six children, he was the only Ó hAilpín to be born on his mother's native island.
When Ó hAilpín was three years-old the family emigrated to Sydney
in Australia. It was here that he first gained an interest in various sports, particularly rugby league
. His years in Australia also saw the birth of Ó hAilpín's siblings - Teu
, Sarote, Setanta
and Aisake
. Both Setanta and Aisake would later play for the Carlton Football Club
in the Australian Football League
. Teu subsequently played both hurling and football in Ireland and Britain.
The Ó hAilpín family moved from Australia to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Cork
. They rented a house in the city before moving permanently to Blarney
, just a short few miles outside the city. Ó hAilpín adapted well to life in his new surroundings and openly accepted all aspects of Irish culture. He was educated locally in the Gaelcholáiste
section of the famous North Monastery secondary school
. Here, all of Ó hAilpín's classes were taught in Irish
, a language that was alien to him, however, he quickly became fluent. It was in the 'North Mon' that he was also first introduced to Gaelic games
, and he quickly became a key component of the school's senior hurling team. Ó hAilpín won a provincial Dr. Harty Cup
winners' medal with the 'North Mon' in 1994, before later lining out in the All-Ireland colleges' final. St. Mary's school from Galway
provided the opposition, however, victory went to the Cork school. The 1-10 to 1-6 score line resulted in Ó hAilpín picking up a coveted All-Ireland
winners' medal.
Ó hAilpín subsequently attended Dublin City University
. In 1999 he was conferred with a BSc
in Finance Computing and Entrepreneurship (Airgeadas, Ríomhairíocht agus Fiontraíocht). He currently works as an official with the Ulster Bank
group in Cork.
club on the north side of Cork city. Here he played both hurling and Gaelic football
and enjoyed much success. In 1995 Ó hAilpín won a minor county championship
winners' medal as the club triumphed in the under-18 grade. He subsequently joined the Na Piarsaigh under-21 team. In 1996 Ó hAilpín lined out in his first championship decider in that grade. Ballincollig
provided the opposition on that occasion and ultimately ended up victorious. Two years later in 1998 Ó hAilpín lined out in a second county under-21 final. North Cork club Newtownshandrum
provided the opposition on that occasion; however, he ended up on the losing side for the second time in three years.
Ó hAilpín was just out of the minor grade when he joined the club's senior team in 1995. That year, as well as playing in the minor championship decider, he also lined out in his first senior county final. Ballyhea
were the opponents on that occasion; however, victory went to city-side Na Piarsaigh. It was Ó hAilpín's first senior senior county championship
winners' medal. It took Na Piarsaigh almost a decade to qualify for their next county final at senior level, as 2004 saw the club take on east Cork stalwarts Cloyne
. An intriguing contest ensued and, at the full-time whistle, victory went to Na Piarsaigh. It was Ó hAilpín's second county winners' medal.
winners' medal following an emphatic 2-15 to 0-9 trouncing of Waterford
. Ó hAilpín later lined out in the All-Ireland final with Galway
providing the opposition. Unfortunately for Ó hAilpín victory narrowly went to the team from the west by 2-10 to 1-11.
In 1995 Ó hAilpín was a key member of the Cork minor team again. That year he collected a second consecutive Munster title following a second consecutive trouncing of Waterford. Cork subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final again, this time with arch-rivals Kilkenny
providing the opposition. At the second time of asking Cork triumphed and Ó hAilpín collected a coveted All-Ireland
minor winners' medal. He was also captain of the minor football team this year but lost out in the Munster Final to Tipperary
.
By 1996 Ó hAilpín was ineligible for the minor team, however, he was an automatic choice for the Cork under-21 team. In his first season on the panel he won a Munster
title following a 3-16 to 2-7 trouncing of Clare
in the provincial decider. Cork were later defeated by eventual champions Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 1997 Ó hAilpín lined out in a second consecutive Munster decider. Arch provincial rivals Tipperary
were the opponents on that occasion. After a close game Cork emerged victorious by a single point and Ó hAilpín collected a second Munster under-21 medal. 'The Rebels' later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Galway providing the opposition. After a defeat at the hands of the men from the west the previous year, Cork gained revenge in 1997 with a 3-11 to 0-13 win in the championship decider. It was Ó hAilpín's first All-Ireland
medal. The victory was all the more spectacular as it was Cork's one hundredth All-Ireland title across all grades.
In 1998 Ó hAilpín was in his final year on the under-21 team. Once again Cork qualified for the provincial decider and, once again, Tipperary provided the opposition. On this occasion Cork's victory over their old enemy was much more comprehensive and Ó hAilpín added a third consecutive Munster under-21 medal to his collection. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Galway at that stage of the competition for the second year in-a-row. An interesting game developed; however, victory went to Cork by 2-15 to 2-10. It was Ó hAilpín's second and final All-Ireland medal in the under-21 grade. His team-mates on those teams - Donal Óg Cusack
, Wayne Sherlock
and Diarmuid O'Sullivan
- would all go on to form the backbone of the senior team over the next decade.
in 1996. He came on as a substitute for Mark Mullins
and assumed the captaincy of the team as the only Na Piarsaigh player on the field of play. Cork were trounced on that occasion by 3-18 to 1-8. Since his debut Ó hAilpín has only missed one championship game for Cork, and that was due to suspension.
Two years later in 1998 Ó hAilpín first tasted success at senior level. Cork defeated Waterford by 2-14 to 0-13 to take the National Hurling League
title. Cork failed to repeat this success in the championship, however, the capturing of the league title was a victory which kick-started Cork's return to the big time.
In 1999 Ó hAilpín became a dual star
with Cork, a player of both hurling and Gaelic football at senior level. He began the year by winning a National Football League
medal following a 0-12 to 1-7 victory over Dublin
.
Later that year the Cork senior hurlers were back in the Munster final for the first time in seven years. Clare, the provincial stars of the last few years, provided the opposition on that occasion and were the firm favourites to secure a fourth title in five years. A Joe Deane
goal proved the key for Cork and, at the full-time whistle, 'the Rebels' were the victors by 1-15 to 0-14. It was Ó hAilpín's first Munster
winners' medal at senior level. Shortly after this victory Ó hAilpín lined out with the Cork senior footballers in the Munster football decider against arch-rivals Kerry
. In atrocious weather conditions Cork emerged victorious by 2-10 to 2-4. It was Ó hAilpín's first Munster
football title and acted as a springboard for further success. Back with the hurlers Cork subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. Once again the wet conditions severely hampered what many people expected to be a classic game. Both teams shot seventeen wides over the seventy minutes, however, the Jimmy Barry-Murphy
-managed Cork team, with an average age of twenty-two, sealed a 0-13 to 0-12 victory. It was Ó hAilpín's first All-Ireland
medal. Two weeks after this victory he lined out for the Cork footballers in the All-Ireland final against Meath
. In an exciting game that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions Cork's hopes of doing the double
were dashed as Meath won by 1-11 to 1-8.
In 2000 Cork's hurlers were the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. The team got off to a good start by retaining their Munster title, however, Tipperary put up a good fight in the final but were ultimately defeated by 0-23 to 3-12. Cork's next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly
. While Cork were expected to win the game without breaking a sweat Offaly caught Ó hAilpín's side on the hop and secured a 0-19 to 0-15 win.
A car crash in 2001 almost ended Ó hAilpín's career as his kneecap was severed, however, he overcame this difficulty and fought his way back to fitness in a short period of time. While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players strike just before Christmas in 2002. Ó hAilpín played a huge role as one of the main spokesmen in representing the welfare of his fellow players. Had the strike failed it could have meant the end of his inter-county career, however, in the end the Cork county board relented and met the demands. Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated to all the trappings of professional athletes.
In 2003 Cork's players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion and one of hurling's modern rivalries began in earnest. An exciting game resulted between the two teams; however, victory went to Cork by 3-16 to 3-12. It was Ó hAilpín's third Munster winners' medal and it gave a signal that Cork were back. Ó hAilpín's side were hot favourites going into the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against Wexford
, however, it was far from a walkover. In one of the most exciting games of the championship both sides finished level: Cork 2-20, Wexford 3-17. Both sides met again six days later with Cork making no mistake and taking the spoils on a score line of 3-17 to 2-7. This win set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. In another thrilling game of hurling both teams were level for much of the game, exchanging tit-for-tat scores. A Martin Comerford
goal five minutes from the end settled the game as Kilkenny went on to win by 1-14 to 1-11. In spite of losing that day Seán Óg and his brother Setanta were both subsequently honoured with All-Star
awards.
2004 saw Cork reach the Munster final once again and, for the second consecutive year, Waterford provided the opposition. In what many consider to be the greatest provincial championship decider of them all, both sides fought tooth-and-nail for the full seventy minutes. Unfortunately for Ó hAilpín Cork lost the game by just a single point on a score line of 3-16 to 1-21. Although Cork surrendered their provincial crown they were still in with a chance of landing the All-Ireland title. After maneuvering through the qualifiers Cork reached a second consecutive All-Ireland final and, once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition. This game took on a life of its own for a number of reasons. Chief among these was the fact that Kilkenny were attempting to capture a third All-Ireland in-a-row and go one ahead of Cork in the All-Ireland roll of honour. The game was expected to be another classic; however, a damp day put an end to this. The first-half was a low-scoring affair and provided little excitement for fans. The second-half saw Cork completely take over. For the last twenty-three minutes Cork scored nine unanswered points and went on to win the game by 0-17 to 0-9. It was Ó hAilpín's second All-Ireland medal and a second consecutive All-Star soon followed.
In 2005 Cork were on form again while Ó hAilpín was honoured by being appointed captain of the team. That year Cork won back the provincial crown with a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over fierce provincial rivals Tipperary. It was Ó hAilpín's fourth Munster winners' medal as Cork went on the march for glory once again. In the All-Ireland semi-final against Clare their championship campaign was nearly derailed when they fell behind by seven points at the start of the second-half. A huge performance by Cork turned this deficit around and Ó hAilpín's side eventually went on to win the game by 0-16 to 0-15. While it was expected that Cork and Kilkenny would do battle again in a third consecutive All-Ireland final Galway were the surprise winners of the second semi-final. It was the first meeting of Cork and Galway in an All-Ireland final since 1990 and even more daunting was the fact that men from the west had never beaten Cork in a championship decider. Once again neither side broke away into a considerable lead, however, Galway failed to score for the last ten minutes and at the final whistle Cork were ahead by 1-21 to 1-16. For the second year in-a-row Cork were the All-Ireland champions and Ó hAilpín had the great honour of collecting the Liam McCarthy Cup
. Despite being born in Fiji, Ó hAilpín is a fluent speaker of the Irish Language
and was lauded for his acceptance speech following the final as it was delivered exclusively in Irish. Following the conclusion of the championship Seán Óg joined his brother, Setanta, a former hurler and currently a player in the Australian Football League with Carlton, for some off-season training. It was thought that he may join his brother at the Australian club, however, unlike his younger brother; his age was a factor against this.
2006 saw Cork turn their attentions to a first three-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles since 1978. The team's championship campaign got off to a good start with a 0-20 to 0-14 defeat of Clare in the opening round of the Munster championship. The subsequent provincial decider saw Cork take on Tipperary for the second consecutive year. Once again Cork's stalwarts stood up and contributed greatly to Cork's 2-11 to 1-11 victory over their old rivals. Subsequent one-point victories over Limerick and Waterford saw Cork qualify for their fourth consecutive All-Ireland final and for the third time Kilkenny were the opponents. Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead, however, Kilkenny had a vital goal from Aidan Fogarty
. Cork were in arrears coming into the final few minutes, however, Ben O'Connor
goaled for Cork. It was too little too late as 'the Cats' denied 'the Rebels' the three-in-a-row on a score line of 1-16 to 1-13.
In 2007 Ó hAilpín's side were set out to atone for their All-Ireland defeat the previous year, however, Cork's championship ambitions were hampered from the beginning. Although defeating Clare in the opening round the he so-called Semplegate affair resulted in Ó hAilpín, goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack and full-back Diarmuid O'Sullivan being suspended for a crucial Munster semi-final clash with Waterford. In spite of being without three of their best players Cork put up a good fight but only lost by a goal. After maneuvering through the qualifiers Cork reached the All-Ireland quarter-final. Once again Waterford provided the opposition as a last-minute Waterford free in meant the game controversially ended in a draw – 3-16 apiece. The replay was less exciting; however, it was still a good game as Waterford triumphed by 2-17 to 0-20.
In 2008 Cork were drawn to play Tipperary in the Munster semi-final. In the lead up to the game there was speculation as to the formation of the Cork team, however, Ó hAilpín still started in his usual position. Cork played well in the first-half, however, after the interval Tipp took over. Cork eventually lost by six points and had to take their chances in the win of bust qualifiers. An unconvincing defeat of Dublin
was followed by a great fourteen-man display against Galway resulting in a 0-23 to 2-15 win and a place in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Clare were the opposition on that occasion and, once again, Cork gave a poor first-half display. The second-half was a different story with Cork taking charge once again and securing a 2-19 to 2-17 victory. This win allowed Cork to advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the first time that these two teams met in the championship outside of an All-Ireland final. That game was an intriguing encounter; however, 'the Cats' won the day by 1-23 to 0-17.
Following this defeat there was speculation that Ó hAilpín and some of the older stalwarts of the Cork team would announce their retirements from the game. While a number of players have yet to make their feelings known Ó hAilpín stated that it may be possible for him to continue for at least another two years.
He played his 50th championship game for Cork in a quarter final loss to Galway in August 2009.
On 18 October 2010, O'hAilpín announced that he had met with Senior hurling manager Denis Walsh
over the previous weekend and that he had informed him that he was not in his plans for the Cork hurling panel. In a statement released by the Gaelic Players’ Association he said “I would love to continue to play for Cork, but I must respect the manager's decision in this regard".
On 15 October 2011, it was announced on the Cork GAA website, that Ó hAilpín is to be included in the training squad for the 2012 hurling season.
in both the inter-provincial hurling and football teams. He first lined out for his province in 1999. While the Munster hurlers were defeated Ó hAilpín won a Railway Cup football medal as Munster defeated Connacht
. The footballers lost their Railway Cup crown in 2000 while the Munster hurlers also faced defeat in 2002 and 2003 when Ó hAilpín was a member of the team. It was 2007 before he finally collected a Railway Cup hurling medal after Munster defeated Connacht in controversial circumstances.
squad. Ó hAilpín started both tests getting on the score sheet with a behind in the first test as Ireland ran out series winners. In 2005 Ó hAilpín was again selected as part of the squad to travel to Australia. He was selected to play in both tests as Ireland were defeated.
In 2008 Ó hAilpín was selected for Ireland against Scotland
in the Hurling/Shinty Compromise International Rules
. He is the first man to be selected for both the Irish International Rules and Hurling-Shinty International Rules teams.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
-Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an sportsperson. A former dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
, he currently plays hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Na Piarsaigh
Na Piarsaigh GAA
Na Piarsaigh are a Hurling and Gaelic football club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1943.-Birth of the club:...
and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title in 2005. His brothers Setanta
Setanta Ó hAilpín
Setanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
, Teu
Teu Ó hAilpín
Teu Ó hAilpín is an Irish sportsperson playing for Na Piarsaigh GAA. Born in Cork, he was a Gaelic Athletic Association player who played for the Éire Óg club in Ennis and Na Piarsaigh in Cork. He is the brother of Cork senior hurling players Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Aisake and older brother of...
, and Aisake
Aisake Ó hAilpín
Aisake Faga Ó hAilpín is an Irish Australian sportsperson. He grew up in Cork and played hurling and Gaelic football with Na Piarsaigh. Ó hAilpín played Australian rules football with the Carlton Football Club between 2005 and 2008...
are also notable sportsmen.
Biography
Ó hAilpín was born on the island of RotumaRotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
, 646 kilometres north of the main Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
islands to Seán Ó hAilpín, an oil-rig worker and a native of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and his wife Emilie, a hotel worker and a Rotuman
Rotuman people
The Rotuman people are the indigenous inhabitants of Rotuma, a small island group forming part of the Republic of Fiji. The island itself is a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian divisions of the Pacific Ocean, and due to the seafaring nature of...
. The eldest of six children, he was the only Ó hAilpín to be born on his mother's native island.
When Ó hAilpín was three years-old the family emigrated to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in Australia. It was here that he first gained an interest in various sports, particularly rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. His years in Australia also saw the birth of Ó hAilpín's siblings - Teu
Teu Ó hAilpín
Teu Ó hAilpín is an Irish sportsperson playing for Na Piarsaigh GAA. Born in Cork, he was a Gaelic Athletic Association player who played for the Éire Óg club in Ennis and Na Piarsaigh in Cork. He is the brother of Cork senior hurling players Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Aisake and older brother of...
, Sarote, Setanta
Setanta Ó hAilpín
Setanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
and Aisake
Aisake Ó hAilpín
Aisake Faga Ó hAilpín is an Irish Australian sportsperson. He grew up in Cork and played hurling and Gaelic football with Na Piarsaigh. Ó hAilpín played Australian rules football with the Carlton Football Club between 2005 and 2008...
. Both Setanta and Aisake would later play for the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Teu subsequently played both hurling and football in Ireland and Britain.
The Ó hAilpín family moved from Australia to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. They rented a house in the city before moving permanently to Blarney
Blarney
Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
, just a short few miles outside the city. Ó hAilpín adapted well to life in his new surroundings and openly accepted all aspects of Irish culture. He was educated locally in the Gaelcholáiste
Gaelcholáiste
A gaelcholáiste is a particular type of Irish medium school in Ireland and Northern Ireland at secondary level. They are characterised by being secondary Irish-medium schools outside the Gaeltacht. Of the approximately 10,000 secondary students who do all their school subjects through Irish,...
section of the famous North Monastery secondary school
The North Monastery
The North Monastery is a collection of primary, secondary and a Gaelcholáiste schools located at Our Lady's Mount, Cork City, Republic of Ireland.-History:...
. Here, all of Ó hAilpín's classes were taught in Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, a language that was alien to him, however, he quickly became fluent. It was in the 'North Mon' that he was also first introduced to Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
, and he quickly became a key component of the school's senior hurling team. Ó hAilpín won a provincial Dr. Harty Cup
Dr. Harty Cup
The Dr. Harty Cup is a hurling competition for schools in the province of Munster in Ireland. The cup is presented to the winners of the Munster Colleges Senior "A" Hurling Championship. Players have to be under the age of 19 to compete. The winning team represents Munster in the Dr. Croke Cup...
winners' medal with the 'North Mon' in 1994, before later lining out in the All-Ireland colleges' final. St. Mary's school from Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
provided the opposition, however, victory went to the Cork school. The 1-10 to 1-6 score line resulted in Ó hAilpín picking up a coveted All-Ireland
Dr. Croke Cup
The Dr. Croke Cup is an inter-county GAA competition in hurling. The first Croke Cups took place between 1896 and 1915. Clare was the first winner of the Dr Croke Cup for Hurling in 1896. In 1909 Ulster were expelled from the Dr...
winners' medal.
Ó hAilpín subsequently attended Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
. In 1999 he was conferred with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Finance Computing and Entrepreneurship (Airgeadas, Ríomhairíocht agus Fiontraíocht). He currently works as an official with the Ulster Bank
Ulster Bank
Ulster Bank is a large commercial bank, one of the Big Four in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Ulster Bank Group is subdivided into two separate legal entities, Ulster Bank Limited and Ulster Bank Ireland Limited...
group in Cork.
Club
While Ó hAilpín first came into contact with Gaelic games during his secondary schooling, he also linked up with the Na PiarsaighNa Piarsaigh GAA
Na Piarsaigh are a Hurling and Gaelic football club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1943.-Birth of the club:...
club on the north side of Cork city. Here he played both hurling and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and enjoyed much success. In 1995 Ó hAilpín won a minor county championship
Cork Minor Hurling Championship
The Cork Minor Hurling Championship is a hurling competition for Gaelic Athletic Association players under the age of 18 in County Cork, Ireland. This competition is also known as the Cork Premier Minor Hurling Championship since 1992. It is played on a countywide basis. Prior to 1992, all teams...
winners' medal as the club triumphed in the under-18 grade. He subsequently joined the Na Piarsaigh under-21 team. In 1996 Ó hAilpín lined out in his first championship decider in that grade. Ballincollig
Ballincollig GAA
Ballincollig GAA is a Gaelic football and hurling club based in the town of Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated with the Cork GAA board and plays in the Muskerry divisional competitions...
provided the opposition on that occasion and ultimately ended up victorious. Two years later in 1998 Ó hAilpín lined out in a second county under-21 final. North Cork club Newtownshandrum
Newtownshandrum GAA
Newtownshandrum GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the small village of Newtownshandrum in County Cork, Ireland. The club, situated in half a parish of about 800 people, was founded in 1896 and is almost exclusively concerned with the game of hurling.In senior hurling...
provided the opposition on that occasion; however, he ended up on the losing side for the second time in three years.
Ó hAilpín was just out of the minor grade when he joined the club's senior team in 1995. That year, as well as playing in the minor championship decider, he also lined out in his first senior county final. Ballyhea
Ballyhea GAA
Ballyhea GAA is a hurling club in the village of Ballyhea in Cork, Ireland. The club is affiliated to the Avondhu, division of Cork GAA. The club currently competes in the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship. It does not field Gaelic football teams....
were the opponents on that occasion; however, victory went to city-side Na Piarsaigh. It was Ó hAilpín's first senior senior county championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
winners' medal. It took Na Piarsaigh almost a decade to qualify for their next county final at senior level, as 2004 saw the club take on east Cork stalwarts Cloyne
Cloyne GAA
Cloyne GAA club is located in the small town of Cloyne in east County Cork, Ireland. Founded in 1887 they have yet to win a Cork Senior Hurling Championship title and have the dubious distinction of losing in the last 3 finals...
. An intriguing contest ensued and, at the full-time whistle, victory went to Na Piarsaigh. It was Ó hAilpín's second county winners' medal.
Minor & under-21
Ó hAilpín first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in 1994. In his first season on the team he won a MunsterMunster Minor Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for the youngest competitors in the province of Munster in Ireland...
winners' medal following an emphatic 2-15 to 0-9 trouncing of Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. Ó hAilpín later lined out in the All-Ireland final with Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
providing the opposition. Unfortunately for Ó hAilpín victory narrowly went to the team from the west by 2-10 to 1-11.
In 1995 Ó hAilpín was a key member of the Cork minor team again. That year he collected a second consecutive Munster title following a second consecutive trouncing of Waterford. Cork subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final again, this time with arch-rivals Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
providing the opposition. At the second time of asking Cork triumphed and Ó hAilpín collected a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor winners' medal. He was also captain of the minor football team this year but lost out in the Munster Final to Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
.
By 1996 Ó hAilpín was ineligible for the minor team, however, he was an automatic choice for the Cork under-21 team. In his first season on the panel he won a Munster
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title following a 3-16 to 2-7 trouncing of Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the provincial decider. Cork were later defeated by eventual champions Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 1997 Ó hAilpín lined out in a second consecutive Munster decider. Arch provincial rivals Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
were the opponents on that occasion. After a close game Cork emerged victorious by a single point and Ó hAilpín collected a second Munster under-21 medal. 'The Rebels' later qualified for the All-Ireland final with Galway providing the opposition. After a defeat at the hands of the men from the west the previous year, Cork gained revenge in 1997 with a 3-11 to 0-13 win in the championship decider. It was Ó hAilpín's first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal. The victory was all the more spectacular as it was Cork's one hundredth All-Ireland title across all grades.
In 1998 Ó hAilpín was in his final year on the under-21 team. Once again Cork qualified for the provincial decider and, once again, Tipperary provided the opposition. On this occasion Cork's victory over their old enemy was much more comprehensive and Ó hAilpín added a third consecutive Munster under-21 medal to his collection. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Galway at that stage of the competition for the second year in-a-row. An interesting game developed; however, victory went to Cork by 2-15 to 2-10. It was Ó hAilpín's second and final All-Ireland medal in the under-21 grade. His team-mates on those teams - Donal Óg Cusack
Dónal Óg Cusack
Donal Óg Cusack is a well-known Irish hurler and Ireland's first openly gay elite sportsman. He plays hurling at club level with Cloyne and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999....
, Wayne Sherlock
Wayne Sherlock
Wayne Sherlock is an Irish sportsman. He played hurling for the Cork senior inter-county team from 1999 until 2006. He still plays hurling with his local Blackrock club.-Early life:...
and Diarmuid O'Sullivan
Diarmuid O'Sullivan
Diarmuid O'Sullivan is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Cloyne and was a dual player with the Cork senior inter-county teams at various times from 1997 until 2008. O'Sullivan is regarded as one of Cork's greatest-ever players.-Biography:Diarmuid O'Sullivan was born in...
- would all go on to form the backbone of the senior team over the next decade.
Senior
By this stage Ó hAilpín was also a member of the senior inter-county team. He made his debut in a Munster championship game against LimerickLimerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in 1996. He came on as a substitute for Mark Mullins
Mark Mullins (hurler)
Mark Mullins is a retired Irish sportsperson. A native of Bagenalstown, County Carlow he played hurling at various times with his local clubs Erin's Own and Na Piarsaigh as well as with the Carlow and Cork senior inter-county teams in the 1990s. Mullins captained Cork in 1996, however, he enjoyed...
and assumed the captaincy of the team as the only Na Piarsaigh player on the field of play. Cork were trounced on that occasion by 3-18 to 1-8. Since his debut Ó hAilpín has only missed one championship game for Cork, and that was due to suspension.
Two years later in 1998 Ó hAilpín first tasted success at senior level. Cork defeated Waterford by 2-14 to 0-13 to take the National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
title. Cork failed to repeat this success in the championship, however, the capturing of the league title was a victory which kick-started Cork's return to the big time.
In 1999 Ó hAilpín became a dual star
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
with Cork, a player of both hurling and Gaelic football at senior level. He began the year by winning a National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medal following a 0-12 to 1-7 victory over Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
.
Later that year the Cork senior hurlers were back in the Munster final for the first time in seven years. Clare, the provincial stars of the last few years, provided the opposition on that occasion and were the firm favourites to secure a fourth title in five years. A Joe Deane
Joe Deane
Joe Deane is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Killeagh and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1996 until 2009...
goal proved the key for Cork and, at the full-time whistle, 'the Rebels' were the victors by 1-15 to 0-14. It was Ó hAilpín's first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
winners' medal at senior level. Shortly after this victory Ó hAilpín lined out with the Cork senior footballers in the Munster football decider against arch-rivals Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
. In atrocious weather conditions Cork emerged victorious by 2-10 to 2-4. It was Ó hAilpín's first Munster
Munster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
football title and acted as a springboard for further success. Back with the hurlers Cork subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. Once again the wet conditions severely hampered what many people expected to be a classic game. Both teams shot seventeen wides over the seventy minutes, however, the Jimmy Barry-Murphy
Jimmy Barry-Murphy
James "Jimmy" Barry-Murphy is a former Irish hurler, Gaelic footballer and association footballer and is the current manager of the Cork senior hurling team...
-managed Cork team, with an average age of twenty-two, sealed a 0-13 to 0-12 victory. It was Ó hAilpín's first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. Two weeks after this victory he lined out for the Cork footballers in the All-Ireland final against Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
. In an exciting game that saw the lead switch hands on several occasions Cork's hopes of doing the double
The Double (Gaelic games)
The Double is a term in Gaelic games that refers to a county winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in the same year. Other major trophies won in combination in the same year at minor or under-21 levels are also often referred to as...
were dashed as Meath won by 1-11 to 1-8.
In 2000 Cork's hurlers were the favourites to retain their All-Ireland title. The team got off to a good start by retaining their Munster title, however, Tipperary put up a good fight in the final but were ultimately defeated by 0-23 to 3-12. Cork's next game was an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
. While Cork were expected to win the game without breaking a sweat Offaly caught Ó hAilpín's side on the hop and secured a 0-19 to 0-15 win.
A car crash in 2001 almost ended Ó hAilpín's career as his kneecap was severed, however, he overcame this difficulty and fought his way back to fitness in a short period of time. While the Cork hurling team should have gone from strength to strength as a result of a solid foundation at minor and under-21 levels the opposite happened. Embarrassing defeats in 2001 and 2002 saw the Cork hurling team reach rock bottom and call a players strike just before Christmas in 2002. Ó hAilpín played a huge role as one of the main spokesmen in representing the welfare of his fellow players. Had the strike failed it could have meant the end of his inter-county career, however, in the end the Cork county board relented and met the demands. Although still amateur sportsmen the Cork senior hurling team were treated to all the trappings of professional athletes.
In 2003 Cork's players were vindicated in taking a stand as the team reached the Munster final for the first time in three years. Waterford provided the opposition on that occasion and one of hurling's modern rivalries began in earnest. An exciting game resulted between the two teams; however, victory went to Cork by 3-16 to 3-12. It was Ó hAilpín's third Munster winners' medal and it gave a signal that Cork were back. Ó hAilpín's side were hot favourites going into the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final against Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
, however, it was far from a walkover. In one of the most exciting games of the championship both sides finished level: Cork 2-20, Wexford 3-17. Both sides met again six days later with Cork making no mistake and taking the spoils on a score line of 3-17 to 2-7. This win set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. In another thrilling game of hurling both teams were level for much of the game, exchanging tit-for-tat scores. A Martin Comerford
Martin Comerford
Martin Comerford is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club O'Loughlin Gaels and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 2002 until 2010.-References:-Teams:...
goal five minutes from the end settled the game as Kilkenny went on to win by 1-14 to 1-11. In spite of losing that day Seán Óg and his brother Setanta were both subsequently honoured with All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards.
2004 saw Cork reach the Munster final once again and, for the second consecutive year, Waterford provided the opposition. In what many consider to be the greatest provincial championship decider of them all, both sides fought tooth-and-nail for the full seventy minutes. Unfortunately for Ó hAilpín Cork lost the game by just a single point on a score line of 3-16 to 1-21. Although Cork surrendered their provincial crown they were still in with a chance of landing the All-Ireland title. After maneuvering through the qualifiers Cork reached a second consecutive All-Ireland final and, once again, Kilkenny provided the opposition. This game took on a life of its own for a number of reasons. Chief among these was the fact that Kilkenny were attempting to capture a third All-Ireland in-a-row and go one ahead of Cork in the All-Ireland roll of honour. The game was expected to be another classic; however, a damp day put an end to this. The first-half was a low-scoring affair and provided little excitement for fans. The second-half saw Cork completely take over. For the last twenty-three minutes Cork scored nine unanswered points and went on to win the game by 0-17 to 0-9. It was Ó hAilpín's second All-Ireland medal and a second consecutive All-Star soon followed.
In 2005 Cork were on form again while Ó hAilpín was honoured by being appointed captain of the team. That year Cork won back the provincial crown with a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over fierce provincial rivals Tipperary. It was Ó hAilpín's fourth Munster winners' medal as Cork went on the march for glory once again. In the All-Ireland semi-final against Clare their championship campaign was nearly derailed when they fell behind by seven points at the start of the second-half. A huge performance by Cork turned this deficit around and Ó hAilpín's side eventually went on to win the game by 0-16 to 0-15. While it was expected that Cork and Kilkenny would do battle again in a third consecutive All-Ireland final Galway were the surprise winners of the second semi-final. It was the first meeting of Cork and Galway in an All-Ireland final since 1990 and even more daunting was the fact that men from the west had never beaten Cork in a championship decider. Once again neither side broke away into a considerable lead, however, Galway failed to score for the last ten minutes and at the final whistle Cork were ahead by 1-21 to 1-16. For the second year in-a-row Cork were the All-Ireland champions and Ó hAilpín had the great honour of collecting the Liam McCarthy Cup
Liam McCarthy Cup
The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.-The trophy:...
. Despite being born in Fiji, Ó hAilpín is a fluent speaker of the Irish Language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
and was lauded for his acceptance speech following the final as it was delivered exclusively in Irish. Following the conclusion of the championship Seán Óg joined his brother, Setanta, a former hurler and currently a player in the Australian Football League with Carlton, for some off-season training. It was thought that he may join his brother at the Australian club, however, unlike his younger brother; his age was a factor against this.
2006 saw Cork turn their attentions to a first three-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles since 1978. The team's championship campaign got off to a good start with a 0-20 to 0-14 defeat of Clare in the opening round of the Munster championship. The subsequent provincial decider saw Cork take on Tipperary for the second consecutive year. Once again Cork's stalwarts stood up and contributed greatly to Cork's 2-11 to 1-11 victory over their old rivals. Subsequent one-point victories over Limerick and Waterford saw Cork qualify for their fourth consecutive All-Ireland final and for the third time Kilkenny were the opponents. Like previous encounters neither side took a considerable lead, however, Kilkenny had a vital goal from Aidan Fogarty
Aidan Fogarty
Aidan Fogarty is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Emeralds and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team.-Club:...
. Cork were in arrears coming into the final few minutes, however, Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor
Ben O'Connor is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newtownshandrum and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999. O'Connor is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.-Biography:Ben O’Connor was born in the village of...
goaled for Cork. It was too little too late as 'the Cats' denied 'the Rebels' the three-in-a-row on a score line of 1-16 to 1-13.
In 2007 Ó hAilpín's side were set out to atone for their All-Ireland defeat the previous year, however, Cork's championship ambitions were hampered from the beginning. Although defeating Clare in the opening round the he so-called Semplegate affair resulted in Ó hAilpín, goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack and full-back Diarmuid O'Sullivan being suspended for a crucial Munster semi-final clash with Waterford. In spite of being without three of their best players Cork put up a good fight but only lost by a goal. After maneuvering through the qualifiers Cork reached the All-Ireland quarter-final. Once again Waterford provided the opposition as a last-minute Waterford free in meant the game controversially ended in a draw – 3-16 apiece. The replay was less exciting; however, it was still a good game as Waterford triumphed by 2-17 to 0-20.
In 2008 Cork were drawn to play Tipperary in the Munster semi-final. In the lead up to the game there was speculation as to the formation of the Cork team, however, Ó hAilpín still started in his usual position. Cork played well in the first-half, however, after the interval Tipp took over. Cork eventually lost by six points and had to take their chances in the win of bust qualifiers. An unconvincing defeat of Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
was followed by a great fourteen-man display against Galway resulting in a 0-23 to 2-15 win and a place in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Clare were the opposition on that occasion and, once again, Cork gave a poor first-half display. The second-half was a different story with Cork taking charge once again and securing a 2-19 to 2-17 victory. This win allowed Cork to advance to the All-Ireland semi-final where Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the first time that these two teams met in the championship outside of an All-Ireland final. That game was an intriguing encounter; however, 'the Cats' won the day by 1-23 to 0-17.
Following this defeat there was speculation that Ó hAilpín and some of the older stalwarts of the Cork team would announce their retirements from the game. While a number of players have yet to make their feelings known Ó hAilpín stated that it may be possible for him to continue for at least another two years.
He played his 50th championship game for Cork in a quarter final loss to Galway in August 2009.
On 18 October 2010, O'hAilpín announced that he had met with Senior hurling manager Denis Walsh
Denis Walsh
Denis Walsh is an Irish hurling manager and former dual player of Gaelic games. He is a former manager of the Cork senior hurling team....
over the previous weekend and that he had informed him that he was not in his plans for the Cork hurling panel. In a statement released by the Gaelic Players’ Association he said “I would love to continue to play for Cork, but I must respect the manager's decision in this regard".
On 15 October 2011, it was announced on the Cork GAA website, that Ó hAilpín is to be included in the training squad for the 2012 hurling season.
Inter-provincial
Ó hAilpín has also played with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in both the inter-provincial hurling and football teams. He first lined out for his province in 1999. While the Munster hurlers were defeated Ó hAilpín won a Railway Cup football medal as Munster defeated Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
. The footballers lost their Railway Cup crown in 2000 while the Munster hurlers also faced defeat in 2002 and 2003 when Ó hAilpín was a member of the team. It was 2007 before he finally collected a Railway Cup hurling medal after Munster defeated Connacht in controversial circumstances.
International
In 2004 Ó hAilpín received his first call up to the Irish International RulesInternational rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
squad. Ó hAilpín started both tests getting on the score sheet with a behind in the first test as Ireland ran out series winners. In 2005 Ó hAilpín was again selected as part of the squad to travel to Australia. He was selected to play in both tests as Ireland were defeated.
In 2008 Ó hAilpín was selected for Ireland against Scotland
Scotland national shinty team
The Scotland national shinty team is the team selected to represent Scotland and the sport of shinty in the annual composite rules international with the Ireland national hurling team. The team represents the Camanachd Association....
in the Hurling/Shinty Compromise International Rules
Composite rules shinty-hurling
Composite rules shinty-hurling , sometimes known simply as shinty-hurling) is a hybrid sport which was developed to facilitate international matches between shinty players and hurling players....
. He is the first man to be selected for both the Irish International Rules and Hurling-Shinty International Rules teams.
External links
- Official GAA Website
- Cork GAA
- Star of the Day
- (http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=102555)