Eddie O'Sullivan on the importance of strength & conditioning and what the future holds for it

The importance of strength and conditioning has never been more important nowadays in the GAA.

It has come a long way in such a short space of time with the game gone very physical with huge emphasis put on strength and conditioning with every team trying to go that extra yard in their aim for success on the pitch.

One of the most highly rated strength and conditioning coaches on Leeside is Kealkill native Eddie O’Sullivan who is currently involved in the backroom team with Blackrock and Bantry Blues. He was previously involved with the Cork minor hurlers for the 2023 season.

The 28-year-old has seen the dramatic rise of strength and conditioning in the past number of years, so how far can it possibly go?

“The trend has gone up massively over the past decade,” O’Sullivan says.

“The data side of things, that has and is going to be a huge influence on how we are going to operate. You're constantly looking at that, you're measuring, analysing and planning around that. I think the data is going to creep in more into strength and conditioning as we move forward.

“At the moment, clubs are using GPS units which was unheard of a decade ago. Clubs would be using different things to measure readiness to train and different tools to measure their recovery. I see that side of things becoming more and more popular and powerful. The trends in strength and conditioning and fitness in general change from time to time but they always seem to come back in. It comes around in circles, there is no ceiling. It’s all about keeping to your principles and trusting yourself.” 

Each strength and conditioning coach has their own philosophy and what they want to do with a team, and while O’Sullivan has many tools, one of his targets with a team is an important one for him.

“There has been a huge influx in different kind of injuries over the past few years,” he said.

“There is a wide range of ACL injuries and severe hamstring injuries but if there is a proper strength and conditioning plan in place, if your following a plan and if your mixing up your load, then you should reduce those risks but obviously the GAA is a contact sport and your going to have these injuries but what your looking to do is reduce that risk.

“It all goes back to trying to make that player the best player they can be and to stay on the pitch that little bit longer. That’s my main job. I want to make a player faster, stronger and just try to keep a player away from injuries for as long as possible.” 

Work-life balance is often a term you hear and that’s something that applies to O’Sullivan. As well as being the strength and conditioning coach of Blackrock and Bantry Blues, he’s also still playing with his beloved St Colum’s while also being the manager of the Leisure Centre at the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig. A busy time.

“Your always looking for that extra percent as a player, manager, coach or whatever,” he said.

“It’s something I would always be saying to the players and sometimes I would be saying it to myself. It's a hectic schedule but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am based in Cork so there’s a lot of mileage up and down to Bantry and St Colum’s. 

"It’s all about managing that. I am working 39 hours in a management position here in the Leisure Centre at the Oriel House Hotel and then on top of that a four-hour round trip down to Bantry a couple of times a week and it could be 11pm by the time your back up to Cork and back into work the next day.

“Going into Blackrock is a very short trip but look, I wouldn’t be doing any of this if I wasn’t enjoying it, simple as that. I don’t take any notice of it to be honest with you. It’s brilliant that you're busy and it keeps you sane. Hopefully it will be a year to remember.”