Lessons in consistency – Niall O’Leary’s class act driving Castlelyons forward

There’s a word that pops up a few times when Niall O’Leary talks about Castlelyons – consistency. Not a boast, by any means.

But over the last five seasons, since the introduction of the new format, their worst return has been a semi-final.

Two county final defeats at Premier Intermediate level, promotion finally in 2023, consolidation last year, and now another crack at a title. The road has been steady, but always forward.

“It's something we've looked at ourselves as well, we have been consistent over the last few years,” O’Leary says. “I suppose we've been batting at the door a long time really.

“Lost two county finals there at Premier Intermediate level as well. But since then, we have been fairly consistent, and I suppose results have gone our way a lot of the time too.” Last year, in their first at Senior A, they came closer than anyone to unseating Glen Rovers.

“We were desperate unlucky last year, looking back on that game,” Niall says. “We missed a lot of chances, lacked a bit of experience at that level really more than anything last year.

“But we're only two years up, so getting out of the group is seen as a huge positive for us at this level, anything after that is kind of a bonus territory for us. It's something that I suppose we weren't expecting throughout the year to achieve, but getting there is brilliant.” 

That blend of realism and drive defines both the player and the team. O’Leary’s own game opens up during the club season. For Cork, he’s the tight, dependable corner-back; for Castlelyons, the role opens out, the leash looser.

“It is different,” he says. “I do get a better chance to play a bit more hurling, at times really.

EXPERIENCE

“But the last few games now with the club as well, I've been picked on that man-marker role, but we've loads of lads here in positions that can play anywhere as well, so it's kind of a case of what's best on the day too.” 

It helps that he’s far from alone in carrying county experience.

“We've lads here that have experience, and this team is ridiculous, like, there's a lot of lads who've played with Cork at underage levels, we've Colm [Spillane], who has played at senior inter-county level as well, but there's a lot of lads here with huge experience playing with Imokilly, different teams like that as well, colleges teams, school teams.” 

The influence runs both ways. O’Leary has spent the best part of seven years in Cork’s full-back line, usually beside Seán O’Donoghue – a partnership where consistency was no more evident than the past two seasons.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Sean, both on the field and off the field, and I suppose we've been playing together now the last six or seven years, so I suppose it's something you do build over time, so it's nice to have a fella like that beside you that's been so consistent over the last few years as well to learn from him too.” 

Back home, his other field of work lies in St Colman’s College, where he teaches PE and History – in the same classrooms he once sat in.

Naturally, the county final has made its way into the corridors.

“It's not too bad at times to be fair, the kids inside are great, so it’s not too bad,” he smiles. “At the moment we've a lot of Bride Rovers lads there, and the slagging over the next two weeks will be hard alright!

“We've great lads in there they totally understand it, they’re big hurling lads as well, so they understand what way to act as well.” But even during the county season, he’s learned to laugh off the Monday-morning verdicts.

“It's always a worry at times with games, that you play well enough that you won't get a slagging Monday morning going into work! But no, it's grand to be fair, there's no issues with fellas like that inside, they know better!” 

The work-life balance, then, is real – teaching in the day, training in the evening, all while Anthony Spillane is jetting in from Dubai to pull on the jersey come championship.

“He's still in Dubai, and he doesn't even bat an eyelid at this stage, to be fair to him,” O’Leary says. “He's been such a servant for us and we'd be lost without him.

It just shows the level of commitment here in the club with fellas like that that are willing to travel that far for a game, so it's great.

That commitment extends even to Zoom meetings. “Any time we have a meeting there, there's a Zoom put on for him and he will tune in.” 

And now, standing between Castlelyons and the top flight are Bride Rovers – neighbours, rivals, and equals in ambition.

“It’s a huge occasion for the whole area here,” O’Leary says. “They gave us a great game in the group stages last year, and they're a serious outfit.

“The players they have, the underage that's coming through the club there, the work that's going on there is obviously phenomenal, so they're an excellent team, and they're going to be very good.”