Cuala Half Back Sean Moran is convinced Con O’Callaghan will make a quick recovery from injury
This past Sunday, Cuala climbed the mountain one more time to clinch their seventh Dublin Senior A Hurling title. A brief hiatus in their dominance last year ended. And a hard fought 1-18 to 1-14 victory over worthy opponents St. Brigids in the county decider saw them back on top.
But the game will be remembered for the short lived performance of All Ireland football hero Con O’Callaghan.
Having completed the historic fifth consecutive All Ireland Senior Football title with Jim Gavin’s Dublin Senior Football panel, it was back to the hard work, helping his club in the county championship.
But after opening the scoring in Sunday’s final with a wonderful solo goal, O’Callaghan was forced to the sideline. It followed what manager Willie Maher described as a “terrible tackle” by Brigids keeper Alan Nolan. And saw the Cuala stars game ending in only the fourth minute. But in his own inimitable style Con had left his mark on the game.
In less than two weeks, Cuala will enter the provincial hurling section of the championship with a tasty clash with St. Mullins of Carlow. It might be too soon for O’Callaghan. But team mate and Dublin Senior hurler Sean Maher is confident Con will return soon.
“I’ve not really been speaking to him, but no doubt we’ll see him again later on in the year.” he told RTE Sport this week.
“He will be back to himself in a few weeks. He suffered a bit of a dead leg.”
The journey travelled and the road ahead
After a massive year in a Dublin jersey, Sean is continuing to enjoy Cuala’s dominance in the hurling world. After a 19 year wait for a county championship, the Dalkey men have now won four of the last five Dublin Senior titles. Two provincial and two All Ireland Club titles were achieved over the course of their county treble between 2015 and 2018.
“It’s been a great few years.” Maher admits.
“We’ve been very fortunate with this team that we’ve had, so we just enjoy the success.”
Following a year out, Cuala are well and truly back in the frame. And no matter what opponent stand in their way, the wealth of experience this side carries will stand to them in the coming weeks and months.
“We know what we are capable of when we play well, having been there and having won two All-Irelands.”
“It’s a high bar we’re setting for ourselves, but we’ll take each game at a time and we know where we ultimately want to be.”
“We’ll come down off our celebrations after the county title and regroup, refocus and look forward to the next challenge ahead of us.
