Advertisement
Dual star

Con O'Callaghan on hurling for Dublin: 'In a few years’ time, I wouldn’t rule it out'

The starlet made waves by scoring 5-6 in two games for Cuala in the Leinster club hurling championship.

GER CUNNINGHAM RECENTLY axed a number of experienced members of the Dublin hurling panel as part of his plans to build for the future.

One youngster he’d surely love to get his hands on is Cuala’s goal-poacher Con O’Callaghan, whose scoring exploits in the Leinster club SHC have made plenty of hurling people sit up and take notice.

AIB GAA Leinster Hurling Club Championship Final Media Day Con O'Callaghan was at the AIB GAA Leinster Hurling Club Championship Final Media Day. Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

The 20-year-old has bagged 5-6 from play in Cuala’s run to the provincial final, but he says his immediate future lies in the far more serene environment of Jim Gavin’s squad.

“In a few years’ time, I wouldn’t rule it out (joining the hurling squad) but now I’m really focused on just this match,” O’Callaghan said.

After that, I’ll let the new year worry about itself. The U21 footballers will be back soon enough. So I’ll just focus on this and giving my best performance this year.”

O’Callaghan is happy to push for a breakthrough with the back-to-back All-Ireland champions in 2017. He picked up his first All-Ireland medal as part of the Dublin squad this year, after making a few brief appearances in the O’Byrne Cup and National League.

“I’m focusing completely on the hurling for the moment,” he says. “In terms of next year, I’d love to push on in terms of experience. I didn’t get much league time last year but hopefully I can build on what I did last year.

Everyone on the panel will have ambitions to play and start for the team. Hopefully I can build on the small things I’ve done this year and push on for next year.

“It’s a great privilege to be a part of the team. Jim and the management and players have a really strong culture there and it’s a bit intimidating at the start. Just a year or two ago, you’d be looking at them on TV with aspirations of playing for them.”

O’Callaghan continued: “When you’re there, at the start it might be a little overwhelming but the lads accept you into it and you get on with it. You have to give it your best and there’s a lot required from you.

“Obviously if Dublin are winning All-Irelands, it’s not going to be easy to get into the team so you have to push yourself in everything you’re doing. It’s a great privilege.”

Con O’Callaghan lifts The Sam Maguire Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Places in the Dublin attack are not easy to come by, but the starlet knows if he plays well, he’ll get his chance.

Cormac Costello was rewarded for his fine vein of form in the lead-up to the All-Ireland final replay and he made a decisive impact with three points on his introduction against Mayo.

“Cormac, I think he didn’t make the match-day panel for one or two games this year and it just shows you. Davy Byrne got in this year for his first, I think it was his first start and he played throughout. Cormac had a great final and finish to the year so there’s definitely opportunities there.

The competition is really good in training and there’s opportunities for young lads if you’re going well enough. It’s not just like Jim is picking lads because they’ve done it before; they’re doing it every day and are consistent. That’s what it takes.

“Firstly you’re fighting to get on the match-day panel which is a big achievement in itself and it takes serious work. Then you’re fighting to get on as a sub and fighting to start. There’s huge competition and lads are really giving it everything to get onto the bench and team.”

O’Callaghan’s father, Maurice, played a significant role in protecting the dual star from burnout during his youth.

“The whole way up, I played both. My brother Cian would’ve been the same until he got an injury and decided he could only play hurling.

Darren MAguire and Con O'Callaghan Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

“(My father) pushed us hard when we needed a push. Underage, you might be playing with loads of teams, the schools, Dublin development and Cuala, so he recognised when we needed a little break.

“He would be forceful enough in making sure we got our breaks. He did push us quite hard. The teams looking for me would have to go through him first and a lot of the times, he decided without telling me or not. But he recognised what was important to us and put our names forward for us.”

After falling short at the final hurdle in Leinster last year, O’Callaghan is determined that Cuala end the year on a winning note.

“Our primary aim last year was to win a Dublin championship and Leinster of course was bonus territory. But once you’re there, you don’t look at it as bonus territory.

We went out then after winning Dublin with the intention of winning Leinster and although bridged the gap of not winning Dublin for 20-odd years, we weren’t satisfied with losing a Leinster final. I don’t think any team would be.

“It just slipped away and it’s so easy for that to happen in finals. Hopefully this year we’re going to take our chances when they’re given and work hard.”

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Analysis: Slaughtneil complete historic treble – but tactics could leave them vulnerable

‘Our young players don’t know what losing is like’ – Chrissy McKaigue

Your Voice
Readers Comments
1
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.