Cork’s Seán Óg Ó hAilpín feels that reaching the Allianz Hurling League final is a return to the glamour days the county have been missing.
The Rebels will meet Kilkenny in two weeks after overcoming Tipperary in Semple Stadium by 1-25 to 2-15.
He told RTÉ: "We set out our stall under the new set-up this year to get to the league final or as far as we can and we've done that. We're in it now and we might as well try to win it. No more needs to be said on what is ahead of us but for the morale and the spirit of the camp this is just another game on."
Ó hAilpín feels the young players Jimmy Barry Murphy has brought in are a vital part of the panel: "That is the way the theme in the camp is at the moment. The young fellows are stepping up to the mark.
"I'm sure Jimmy Barry Murphy was just pulling Conor Lehane and Darren Sweetnam aside with a couple of weeks in mind and Darren has exams.
"But you saw their contribution when they came on - they looked sharp and speed and pace is where the game is going. Those guys have it in abundance and they are good for the older fellows like myself in the camp."
Cork were last in a league final two years ago but they have not claimed the honour since the late 90s. After a break from inter-county action last year, Ó hAilpín admitted it is great to be back at such a level.
“You can’t buy days like today playing against Tipperary and a league final in two weeks time. You don’t get many of those days out. People might find that kind of strange and that when you represent the Cork people you assume you get the big games every year.
"But that hasn’t been the case the last couple of years. The fans are coming onto the pitch and there is renewed spriit around the place. That is good to see.”
