Jockey Michael O'Sullivan was a talented footballer with Kilshannig, winning four county medals 

At Michael O’Sullivan's funeral last month, his love for Kilshannig was on show. 

The Lombardstown native passed away on Sunday, February 16, following injuries he suffered in a fall during a race 10 days earlier. Horse racing was always his number one love and he was one of the brightest young jockeys in the country.

On a wet day in Glantane when people said a sad farewell to the 24-year-old at his funeral, the proud Kilshannig flag, the famous blue and gold, was wrapped around the coffin when it entered and departed the church.

Even though he hung up the GAA boots in 2018, he achieved a lot in his playing career including winning four county medals, all in football, U13 A in 2012, Premier 2 U16 and Minor A in 2016 and Premier 2 Minor in 2018.

His passion for Kilshannig knew no bounds. Michael’s brother Alan still plays for the Avondhu club.

Three players who played with Michael from the U5 grade up to Minor level were Colm O’Shea, Éanna O’Hanlon and Bill Curtin. The latter was very close to Michael from a very young age.

“I was in school with Michael and he was definitely one of the smartest fellas in the class,” Bill says.

“He was academically brilliant and had common sense and he was able to translate that onto the playing field. As the years went on and he became a professional jockey, he was able to use his strengths playing GAA. He was very tall but not the strongest.

“Michael was a gentleman and a funny character in the dressing room, great craic. He would be able to take the piss out of you and you would be able to do the same. There would be no arguments.

He was a team player and never put himself first. 

"A lot of his attributes on the pitch were as good if not better than the rest of us on the team. He was extremely smart on the ball, he never brought it into the tackle, always looked for the best option. He was probably the fittest player on our team because of being a jockey.” 

SPECIAL YEAR

For Éanna, one memory sticks out the most in his playing career with Michael. It was a special year in 2016 for both Kilshannig and Michael.

“It would have to be winning the Premier 2 U16 football final,” Éanna said.

“Michael started that day. I think he started wing-back in the whole championship that year. Our style of play back then was a lot of possession-based. 

He was very good on the ball coming out and creating attacks. 

"If you look back, all of our games that year were very low-scoring.

“He was always an important part of our team growing up but especially in 2016. We were very solid defensively, conceding very little and Michael did play a big part in that. He used to wear white boots, one of Michael’s biggest things was that he would say that he wore white boots because it made him faster.

“We played Ilen Rovers in the quarter-final and we only conceded six points that day, I am sure. Michael was an integral reason why that was the case. He had a great game in that one.

“We also won the Minor A football championship that year. Michael was playing a year up so he was a sub but was still very much a key part of that team.” 

Kilshannig made people stand up and take notice of them as a club when the Minors defeated a fancied St Finbarr’s team in the Premier 2 final in 2018 at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Colm was captain back then on an evening when Michael came on in the second half to help the team in blue and gold over the line. He finished his GAA career on a high.

“For any player to play in Páirc Uí Rinn is unbelievable and it was fitting that it was Michael’s final game for Kilshannig. 

He was heavily involved in the horse racing that year hence why he wasn’t starting. He didn’t make many training sessions but he was still fit enough to start.

“He was just a safe pair of hands. I have only good memories of playing with Michael. He was such a likeable guy.” 

Despite Michael pursuing his dream as a jockey and going on to achieve great things, he never forgot his roots. When he was racing, he would wear the Kilshannig colours. 

He attended Kilshannig’s 2022 IAFC final when they beat Aghabullogue and was also present last year when they overcame the same opposition, this time in the PIFC decider after a replay.

His three former teammates all said that Michael will be on their minds forever.

“Hopefully we can do him proud in the Senior A football championship this year and bring back silverware for Michael,” Bill states.

“Michael will always be in our hearts,” both Éanna and Colm said.

BEST DAY

The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been renamed in memory of Michael. The young Lombardstown jockey enjoyed his best day in the saddle when winning that race aboard Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale in 2023.

That was the first leg of a memorable double on a red-letter day for the rising star. He went on to land the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle on Gordon Elliott’s Jazzy Matty for Caldwell Construction later in the afternoon.