AIDAN WALSH HAS committed solely to playing for the Cork footballers in 2017 while Alan Cadogan and Damien Cahalane are still weighing up their options before deciding whether to play football or hurling next season.
Walsh, who won an All-Ireland senior football medal in 2010, has been part of the Cork hurling squad in recent seasons. He was a dual player in 2014 before opting to play hurling only in 2015 and 2016.
After the Cork hurlers All-Ireland qualifier exit against Wexford in July, Walsh did then join the Cork football squad and played during their qualifier defeat against Donegal in Croke Park later that month.
“We’re delighted to have Aidan available to us next year”, Cork selector Eoin O’Neill told The42.
“He’s a big addition and it’s about getting back on the football track for him now.”
The football setup are leaving the door open for Douglas forward Alan Cadogan and Castlehaven player Damien Cahalane but have ruled out the prospect of them filling a dual mandate.
Both players have been part of the hurling side over the last few years. Cadogan also joined the Cork football panel this summer in the wake of the Wexford loss and was brought on as a late substitute against Donegal.
Cahalane last played for the Cork footballers in championship in their 2014 All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Mayo.
“Both Alan and Damien are two very good footballers and we know it’s a huge decision for them to make,” stated O’Neill.
“But one way or another, they will have to make the call over the next while. We just don’t feel that we can have fellas playing both hurling and football, given the current demands of the inter-county game.
“It’s completely up to the lads themselves to do what they feel is best. We’d love to have them available to us of course. We’re very ambitious and they’d be great additions.”
There was speculation over the future of some of Cork’s long-serving players in the wake of the loss to Donegal but at present no one has indicated to the management that they are going to retire.
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