PÁIDÍ Ó SÉ’S pub in Ventry and Semple Stadium in Thurles.
Conor O’Sullivan links the two together for a significant stage in his Cork hurling career.
May 2009 against Tipperary was his debut in the championship cauldron for Cork and it proved to be quite the instructive experience.
“I still get a doing over that,” he recalls.
“I was definitely too young. Going into it, sure I thought it was class. I was only 20.
“I remember the boys were saying, they went down to Dingle that weekend, down to Paidi O Se’s pub. They were watching it in there and they were like, ‘we know the fella now corner back, we know him’.
“Lar Corbett caught I don’t know how many balls over my head and they’d gone from ‘we know him’ to putting their heads down, sitting in the corner and not saying anything.
“I think Shane O’Neill went off injured and Shane Murphy came on corner back.
I think only for that fact I would have been whipped fairly quickly after but there was no other corner back to come on. That was a really tough one.
I still get a slagging about it. It was a real baptism of fire.
“I think coming off that, it did set me back but I just knew I had to trust myself then.”
Slagging was something he braced himself for at the start of this season as well. O’Sullivan stepped away from the Cork setup last April but got the call to return to the Rebel ranks last Christmas.
“I don’t mind it, I’d be the first person to give it out,” laughs O’Sullivan.
“I kind of have to be willing to take it as well. I’m thick skinned, I’ll get over it.
“It was really tough to step away from it last year. But I wasn’t giving a full commitment to it and obviously that’s not fair on anyone.”
A summer away from the relentless demands of being an inter-county player refreshed him.
“A bit of beer, went away with the lads for weekends, just completely normal things.
Got a call as I’m sure everyone does to go to America to play hurling but I’d not interest in that.
I had to stay around with Sars, I love playing with Sars as well. It was grand to spend time with Caroline as well around the place, just normality.
“The stuff I realised last year is when you come home from work at 5 or 6 o’clock, it’s a long evening when you’re not going training.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself to be honest with you. I don’t know how many miles I covered last year walking, it was probably more than I would have done training.”
He was not an obsessive for slipping into the role of an inter-county hurling spectator either.
“I wouldn’t be mad to go to matches anyway. I went to Thurles to see Cork play Clare actually. I don’t know why I went up!
“I thought that game went completely under the radar in terms of the summer, that was one of the best games in bad conditions. It was an unreal win for Cork.
“But then I saw the Galway match on telly and that was obviously deflating then after it. It was a shame not to be able to follow up the Clare game.”
O’Sullivan doesn’t have to think for long about what motivated him to mount a comeback.
“I just realised I’m 27 now, I haven’t really won anything with Cork.
I want to win stuff with Cork. I want to make the most of it, so I do have a renewed enthusiasm if you look at it that way.”
O’Sullivan has stepped in to a Cork setup this year which has a new management team but there’s a familiar face present in his club mate Pat Ryan as selector.
“The lads are top class. Kieran (Kingston) is unreal, I’ve had the experience with Pat (Ryan) the last few years since I was 16 or so.
“Sully, Pat Hartnett have unbelievable records as well. Frank Flannery’s young and he’s probably lesser known than them but his CV is unbelievable.
Pat’s class. He’s just clever when it comes to day to day things as well. If you need a break or just want to have a laugh, he knows how to deal with people like that.
He’s a great insight into the game, he knows how it’s played. He keeps up the pace with how it’s developing.”
This spring’s league was a stop-start affair for the Sarsfields club man as he hit injury roadblocks.
But he’s hit fitness at the right time before tomorrow’s showdown with a Tipperary team that will be brimming with first-rate attackers.
As a defender O’Sullivan is ready for them and playing potentially as a spare man, a role he perfected in Cork’s 2013 march to the All-Ireland final.
“Tipp score goals in every game, if you could contain them to some degree, it’d be exceptional.
“The way it’s gone now, you have to consider nearly playing with two men, the way teams withdraw so many players.
“But then again I can’t be saying I hope I’m free man now. I’m corner back so I have to be able to deal with someone.”
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Anyone seen Mel?
@TheHospitalPass: he’s preparing the appeal
@TheHospitalPass: remember he said that Tyrone and Kerry are the top 2 teams in the country a few days ago. What a genius
Derry broke the Tyrone code,did I get that right mel.
@Stephen Doherty: lots on here have made similar statements
@TheHospitalPass: Mel who?
@Joe Healy: Mel who pipes up when Tyrone win but goes missing when they lose in the championship. He’s good craic
@Kevin Mullin: always here
@TheHospitalPass: I’m here unlike you
@Stephen Doherty: we still are
@mel roberts: Hard luck to Tyrone Mel, they were worthy champions last year and at least they have a second chance.
Best team by far. Tyrone just relying on physicality and as usual made a balls of it. 2 red cards is typical of this outfit. If they don’t sort out their tackles, this will be repeated probably against Sligo. Well done Derry
@Noel Lynn: 2 absolutely ridiculous reds to give away, especially the first one. How can you lose your head that easily
@Noel Lynn: it’s a very hard game to tackle fairly in.
@Noel Lynn: mayo v Tyrone in the qualifiers would be a juicy one
@Finnster: ya was just thinking same
Great game from Derry, well on top all over. Will give Ulster some rattle now. Tyrone haven’t been really been at it this year and the back door will be tough this year. Thought the Kennedy red was pretty soft but at the same time it’s not the first time we’ve seen them in trouble with discipline. Works for them some days, caught today.
Tyrone discipline is an absolute disgrace. Week in week out they are involved in brawls and getting red cards for fun. Seems to be every week they are appealing another card. Conor McKenna the usual suspect and once again delivered in getting his red. Pathetic and an awful influence especially for the young players. Would not let me son watch them play, not for the red cards because he’d know better, but for the tragic approach taken. No wonder nobody watches anymore.
@Stanley: In the words of an adopted Derry girl “You might want to think about wising up”.
Might have been better accepting their bans and trying to learn from them
Tyrone might consider the Tailteann cup after that display!
@Desheen: Not Good Enough fir it
Something not right in the Tyrone camp. Fellas quitting the panel, other players publicly criticising fellas for leaving the panel..haven’t been at it this year.
C’mon, Mel. Spill the beans..
Cliques, favoritism, club clashes..?
Derry were always going to be a tough one, the sort of game were ypu need to dig in and get a result. Didnt happen, Derry played well, bossed the midfield and we were petulant. Two red cards that an u11 would be embarressed by. Better team won, fair play Derry but you get these days with us, also get All Ireland finals though.
Please,please can we outlaw the back pass in gaelic football,destroying the game,and the enjoyment thereof
Jesus, first round of qualifiers gonna have Mayo, Tyrone, Armagh, Clare, Monaghan/Derry, possibly Dublin or Kildare depending on the draw.
@Alan Kenny: provincials are so last year. Qualifiers are where the cool teams play their football
@Desheen: Rte gonna be raging
Remember seeing Derry playing in the 50s.and in particular 1958 I think it was,with Jim McKeever and the Cribbin’s ,that team was magic,didn’t win much,no Derry come near since,maybe this team has ‘it’
@Sean Doheny: Didn’t a Derry team not win the All-Ireland in 1993 with a famous team?
@Sean Doheny: you alright there Sean. As far as I remember Derry won an All Ireland in 1993 would you believe. Star studded team they had too.
Where the hell is Mel!??
@Billy Davies: the man is entitled to have a few pints and reflect
@John O Reilly: in Sally’s I’d say
@Tom kenny: was in parkhead yesterday. Watched that shambles from Glasgow thank god
I’ve been in glasgow watching Celtic win the league. I’ll front up. Seen this coming. Fair play Derry. Onto the next. I’m still here unlike hospital pass
Derry bring a dog fight & Tyrone needed that. They are miles from where they need to be and evident from the league. They’ll need to cop on fairly quick or they’ll be dumped out of the qualifiers.
@archie bald henry: no dog fight today. Derry just better today in all areas in fairness.
@Mel Kilcoo would beat Tyrone :)
Derry won in 1993 alright,but weren’t near as magic as the 58 team (my opinion)
I was at parkhead today. Shite Jobby!! I’m here give me pelters it’s deserved!! Seen it coming. We are still gonna win the all Ireland
@mel roberts: Fair play Mel. Take the bad with the good. Derry deserved the win.
Tyrone usually don’t follow up their all Ireland winning years with another the following year. It’s next year I’d be watching out for ye.
@mel roberts:
Fair play on travelling to Celtic Park today.
Hail Hail and up the Dubs.