Eddie Brennan | Joe Canning | Ollie Canning | DJ Carey | Eugene Cloonan
Martin Comerford | Lar Corbett | Brendan Cummins | Ronan Curran
Ger Farragher | James 'cha' Fitzpatrick | Damien Fitzhenry | Paul Flynn
John Gardiner | Niall Gilligan | Damian Hayes | Conal Keaney | Michael Kavanagh
Eoin Kennedy | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Kelly | Eoin Larkin | Derek Lyng
Fergus McMahon | Seanie McMahon | Johnny McIntosh | Andrew Mitchell
Stephen Molumpy | Pat Mulcahy | John Mullane | Sean Óg Ó Hailpin
Andrew O'Shaughnessy | Ben O'Connor | Seamus Prendergast
Keith Raymond | Eoin Quigley | Joe Rabbite | Keith Rossiter | Dan Shanahan
Henry Shefflin | James Skehill | Tommy Walsh | Brian Whelehan | James Young

Cork’s passage to this year’s All-Ireland Hurling final has not been an easy one. They faced stern tests at every turn, and needed both a strong team spirit and some inspirational leadership to turn games in their favour.

On every occasion, Cork captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, stepped up to the challenge with some rock-solid defending and he even scored some crucial points that seemed to swing games in ‘the Rebel’s’ favour.

His mighty point against Waterford in the quarter-final was his first Championship score ever and cemented his legendary status on Leeside.This Cork team, some of whom first tasted All-Ireland glory in 1999, are now pushing to match the achievements of the great Cork hurling teams of the past. With a leader like Ó hAilpín, that and more, look entirely possible.

What has been your greatest moment in sport?
Winning my first Senior All-Ireland hurling final with Cork in 1999 was very special. My first county championship with Na Piarsaigh was not far behind. Nothing I do now will compare to those two moments because they were my childhood dreams.

How did it feel to score your first Hurling Championship points this summer?
It was a long wait, wasn’t it? After nine years of hurling it was about time. I don’t go out wanting to score points, my first aim is to keep the man I’m marking scoreless. That point I got against Waterford was the icing on the cake, it just kind of happened. In years gone by I wouldn’t have gone for it, but this time I did. I don’t expect to get three or four points in every game, my bread and butter is hooking and blocking.

Who is the toughest opponent you have ever faced?
They’re all tough at this level but the toughest team is Kilkenny. They are a top class outfit with a great hurling tradition, and they are all great hurlers. I was lucky enough to mark DJ Carey a couple of times and I found him to be the toughest.

Did you have any childhood heroes?
My former club mate Tony O’Sullivan was someone I looked up to a lot. Also, when I was growing up in Sydney in the 1980s we used to watch the All-Ireland football finals and I remember Jack O’Shea as someone I always admired.

What advice would you give to young players?
Eat well, sleep well, train well. Give 100% and nothing less – if you’re not willing to give it your all, then don’t bother.

Do you have any superstitions?
I used to wear my club colours under my Cork stockings when I was playing for the county. I also used to put the hurley I’d use for big matches away for a couple of weeks before the big day – I wouldn’t train with it leading up to the game.