Hurling legend Tony O'Sullivan on Cork club hurling and Na Piarsaigh's rebuild

When you've won everything in hurling at club and inter-county level, it's natural your love for GAA burns bright.

Na Piarsaigh legend Tony O’Sullivan collected three senior All-Ireland medals to go with five All-Stars and Hurler of the Year in 1990.

During his glittering career, he also helped the North Mon win the Dr Harty and All-Ireland College titles in 1980. After winning it all underage with Na Piarsaigh, he got his hands on the Seán Óg Murphy Cup in 1990 when his club defeated St Finbarr’s after a replay. 

Three years later, he retired from inter-county hurling.

Known as Baby Jesus during his playing days, O'Sullivan was one of the classiest hurlers in the country for many years. His jinking runs and ability to score points from all angles while under intense pressure made him one of Cork's best-ever forwards.

Nowadays Tony is in the background working hard for his beloved club where his brother Colin is the present chairman.

When it comes to his club though, he's a diehard and when they were relegated from Premier Senior in 2022 it saddened him deeply.

“Look first of all my brother Colin took over the reins last season as chairman and I suppose and that stage we needed somebody younger and having the experience of playing and winning a county I think is standing to him.

“He is one of many putting a whole new structure in place and to be fair there is some great people involved and for me, I am working with the Hive who have now amalgamed with the juvenile committee,” O’Sullivan said.

The work that is presently going on in Na Piarsaigh is incredible as they look to get motoring again with their younger teams.

“Look it’s a tough job and we have fantastic people giving their all and hopefully we can turn it around, but there are no guarantees in this life."

The lack of new houses in the northside has affected all clubs in that region.

“When you look at our club, Farranree was a young parish in my days and basically all we had was the GAA and a bit of soccer but suddenly with no houses getting built the conveyor soon stopped.

“Farranree is a mature area and the only way we are going to get new blood is with families coming into the community.” 

Getting back to the top tier of Cork club hurling is the number one priority for all concerned at Na Piarsaigh.

“We were all very disappointed losing our status in 2022 but look sometimes you have to put your hand up and admit we were not good enough in the season that we dropped down.” 

O’Sullivan is realistic about the drop.

It has happened and there’s little we can do about it only to find a way to get back up and it certainly will not be from the want of trying.” 

The former great praised the present coaching staff in the club.

“We have the right people at the top who are doing incredible work and they should all be commended for the hours of voluntary work they are giving to our Senior A team. Right through the club, we have some fantastic people at all levels, and I must commend them for their efforts.” 

PRESSURE

The new championship system puts pressure on all clubs.

“Relegation hits you right in the face when you look at the shock that Glen Rovers got but credit to them, they turned it around and in fairness I think they will pose many teams' problems next season.

"As a former player, I am probably after getting a culture shock with the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the show on the road and credit to the many volunteers in our city and county for their incredible loyalty.” 

O’Sullivan would however like to see one change in the championship format.

“I would like to see one round played before the Munster championship as you have players back training now and in reality, they will not be playing serious competitive club hurling until August.

If players had one championship game behind them, I think when August resumed, they would have a far clearer picture in what they have to do going forward.” 

On Sunday Sarsfields carry Cork's hopes in the All-Ireland club hurling final and O’Sullivan believes it would be a major boost if they could win it.

“Great achievement in Sars getting there and credit to this club they do amazing work at many levels and of course, for my former friend and teammate Teddy McCarthy it would be great to give him a heavenly present.”