O hAilpin appreciates chance to sample what might have been

International Rules/second test: In a world not too far from our own, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín could have been on the Australian team playing Ireland in the International Rules. He spent his childhood in Sydney dreaming of a career playing AFL. The parallel life he has since led is well known to us all from the peaks reached as a hurler in the past two years to his return to Australia as an Irish footballer.

Having made a very good impression when sprung into the team last year despite being out of intercounty football for four seasons, Ó hAilpín found himself swept away by the deluge last week.

"I realised in the first quarter that a lot of their kicks were going over. Last year they were hitting the corner flag. This time they've been working the ball smartly and using it better. If the forward had a set shot, well before he took it they made sure our backs were manned up."

With the defence under constant pressure Ireland struggled to string together moves from the back. Inability to make tackles count all around the field maintained that pressure and even the sluggish inter-change rate gave the Australians an edge.

"I was on the field for about 70 minutes (out of 80). I got my first break after 10 minutes or so of the second quarter. By that stage I'd marked five guys.

"That was a big problem. Fellas were on too long and trying to keep up with some Aussie who was just back on the field after a break. They got more juice and jizz out of their fellas but I know it's something our management has been working on for this week."

He says that the fallout from the first-Test disaster has affected the mood among players over the last week, as they acknowledge the need for improved work rate and better performances.

Asked if he's enjoying the experience, his response is unambiguous: "To be honest it's seen as a holiday tour but it's not. You're here to win. I'm staying on for a few weeks - that's my holiday. Until next Friday I'd like to go to a lot of places but I won't. I have to rest up for the match."

He has met up with his brother Setanta, now two years into his contract with Australian Rules club Carlton. "I would have certainly liked to get a shot at it," says Seán of an AFL career. "That would have been my number-one dream growing up and even though I didn't get a chance I'm delighted my brother did."

There has been speculation about Setanta's AFL career and a possible return to Cork hurling but his brother says it's business as usual. "He's back for his third year and every year is not as bad as his first year. That first season was like a funeral. People at home weren't happy about him coming out but as time goes by that's not as bad, especially with two All-Irelands won.

"Deep down inside of course there's regret - Setanta's only human after all . . . But he thought long and hard about coming out to Melbourne. When he set foot on the plane he decided: 'Whatever happens back home is immaterial. This is my chance and I'm going to try and make it work.' If he should play regular games with Carlton it would more than make up for what he's lost at home because that's his dream."

So for the future the brothers will continue to pursue sporting careers on different sides of the globe but today Seán Óg gets his chance to make an impact on the same footballers in whose company his brother hopes to spend the coming season.