Adrian O'Sullivan happy to make himself available for future international windows if needed

Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig Super League player Adrian O’Sullivan just finished his tenth straight year with the Irish men’s senior team having won 41 senior caps in that period and he has still ambitions to carry on playing international basketball if he is called into future squads.

Adrian’s first Irish program was when he was 15 years-old, that brought his team to Portugal in the summer of 2009 for the Irish U16 European Championships in 2008.

He made his senior debut in the summer of 2016 at the European Championship for Small Countries in Moldova, and it was a special debut as he played along side his brother Ciaran, as well as Cork players Kyle Hosford and Jordan Blount, who were also part of the most recent international window a few weeks ago. 

Five years later with these Cork teammates they helped Ireland to lift Small Countries European Championship and had to do it without their loyal supporters at the National Arena because of Covid restrictions.

“I am extremely proud to represent my club at international level and I have now 41 senior international caps across ten years straight after last week’s international window,” Adrian said.

“I first put on the green jersey when I was 15 years old representing my country at the European Championships in Portugal and it seems only like last year, as the years have really flew by.

“You will never forget your first cap and I won mine playing alongside my brother Ciaran, which was a very special day for my dad, Francis and mother Grace, as they both have coached at international level and are steeped in basketball. 

"However, the most memorable was probably winning the European Championships for Small Countries in 2021 in Dublin with my Cork teammates Kyle Hosford and Jordan Blount, who were also part of our last window along with James Hannigan and David Lehane. 

"Covid did its best that year, as we had to play without supporters, but it didn’t spoil our plans within the group to lift the trophy.

“The biggest differences to the team now to when I made my debut was our team was full of Super League talent, as the years have gone on the Super League talent is getting better, but the major difference is the amount of full time pros and Division One College players that are filling the international roster year in year out. 

"I think it’s just the beginning now and in years to come, the players on the roster will be expected to be full time professionals if we are to be successful beyond pre qualifying groups. 

"There are so many of our young players now looking to sign contracts in Europe now, and rightly so, as the standard of our young players that are playing in the League and across America playing College ball is at a really high level.

“I’ve always been the player who never has an issue playing with speed, I’d get up and down the floor all day for you, however, at the international level when you’re met with that same thing on the opposing side, you’re going to have to add something to your game. 

"You have to adapt to the change of speed, playing at different paces and it is something I have finally learned how to do a bit better than when I originally made the international set up. 

"I definitely learned the understanding how to play defence consistently at the higher level, which is so much different than what we play every weekend in the Super League. 

"It is something that we all had to improve upon, as possessions off are non existent on the international stage. 

"You could say I had to learn that the hard way.

“My immediate thoughts in terms of my future international career is this. I will see what the next step is in terms of competition and speak to the coaching staff when the time is right. 

"I always said if I feel I have more to give my teammates, then that is what I am going to do. 

"My experience with the international set up has been nothing short of incredible and if the time is up so be it. 

"However, I won’t be cutting myself short and if the coaching staff thinks I have something to offer I won’t hesitate to offering my services, as I am always very proud and its a great honour to wear the green jersey for my country.

“So time will tell when the next international window comes around and conversations will be had to be sure,” O’Sullivan concluded.