Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy can see no reason why the county's more seasoned campaigners should retire in the wake of last Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final loss to Kilkenny. While acknowledging that the likes of Sean Og O hAilpin, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Joe Deane and the O'Connor twins have a lot of miles on the clock, McCarthy is in no doubt that they are fit enough to play on for at least another year. "We're licking our wounds at the moment, and the players need time to assess the situation. They are a very dedicated bunch and you are talking about players who are only 30 or 31 which, with the effort that's required, might be a bit old in current-day hurling. "But they are in top physical shape and I don't see why they should be pinpointed for retirement just because we have been beaten by Kilkenny. As for the management, we have just lost an All-Ireland semi-final and that's enough to have to deal with in one day." Tweet

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