Player Profile-Sean Og O hAilpin Cork Hurler

Age: 32 (22^nd May 1977)

Height: 6-2

Place of Birth: Rotuma, Fiji

Club: Na Piarsaigh

Position: Left Half-Back (Hurling and Gaelic)

Profession: Bank Official

Represented Club: 2005-Present

Represented Cork Hurlers: 1996-Present

Represented Cork Footballers: 1999-2001

Honours:

1 Croke Cup Medal

1 Dr Harty Cup Medal

3 Minor County Medals

1 Minor All-Ireland Hurling Medal

2 Munster Minor Medals

1 Under-21 Munster Medal

2 Under-21 All-Ireland Medals

1 Senior County Medal

3 Senior All-Ireland Medals

15 Munster Medals

3 All-Stars

1 Munster Football Medal

1 Railway Cup Medal (Munster Footballers)

1 Railway Cup Medal (Munster Hurlers)

Selected for Irish International Rules Team 2004 and 2005

Selected for Irish Hurling/Shinty International Rules Team 2008

Texaco Player of the Year in 2004

Sean Og O hAilpin was born in Rotuma, Fiji and his family moved to Sydney in Australia when he was three years-old. It was in Sydney that O hAilpin began to gain an interest in sport particularly Rugby League. The family moved to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Blarney, Cork.

He was educated at the Gaelcholaiste section of the famous North Monastery Secondary School, becoming fluent in Irish. It was here at North Mon that O hAilpin was introduced to Gaelic Games quickly becoming a key player in the schools Senior Hurling team. He picked up a Dr Harty Cup winners medal and in 1994 won an All-Ireland Colleges Medal as his side defeated St Marys of Galway 1-10 to 1-06.

After school O hAilpin went to Dublin City University gaining a BSC in Finance Computing and Enterpreneurship, he then went to work for Ulster Bank.

O hAilpin first represented Cork at Minor level in 1994 and won a Munster title, the same year Cork made it into the final only to be beaten by Galway 2-10 vs 1-11. The next year saw Cork defend their Munster crown and at the second time of asking they brought home the All-Ireland title, defeating Kilkenny in the final. O hAilpin then moved up to Under-21 level winning a Munster title in his first season, once again Galway beat them in the All-Ireland final. In 1997 Cork got the better of Galway in the All-Ireland Under-21 final defeating them 3-11 to 0-13. This win was Corks 100^th All-Ireland title at all levels.

He made his Senior debut in 1996 in the Munster championship coming on as a sub for Mark Mullins against Limerick. Since then O hAlipin has only missed one championship game for Cork, he was suspended.

In 1999 he was called up to the Cork Football playing in and winning a Munster football medal as they beat Kerry 2-10 to 2-04 in the final. He also lined out in the All-Ireland final losing to Meath 1-11 to 1-08.

In 2000 the hurlers regained their Munster title but lost out to Offaly in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. In 2001 O hAilpin suffered a severed knee-cap in a car crash. He fought his way back to full fitness and helped Cork to a Munster title in 2003; it was O hAilpins third Senior Munster Medal. The following year Cork denied Kilkenny three All-Irelands in a row and stopped them moving ahead in the All-Ireland roll of honour. O hAilpin picked up his second All-Star.

O hAilpin captained Cork to the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2005, as they defeated Galway 1-21 to 1-16. The following year Cork reached their third All-Ireland final, this time Kilkenny denied them a three in a row. 2007 was a bad season for Cork as they were beat by Waterford in the Munster Semi-Final. In 2008 they lost to Tipperary by six points in the Munster Semi-Final. In the All-Ireland Quarter-Final Cork came back from a poor first-half to secure a two point victory (2-19 to 2-17). They lost to Kilkenny in the Semi-Final; it was the first time the two sides met outside of the final.

In 2009 Cork suffered defeat at the hands of Tipperary, a strong and dependable half-back O hAilpin had the better of Noel McGrath. His influence helped to get Cork back into contention but Tipp held on for a three point victory. They defeated Offaly in the qualifiers but they failed to see off a talented Galway side losing 0-15 to 1-19.