Ben O'Connor and Shane Daly show positive impact GAA can have on Munster rugby

Munster Rugby’s visit to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh carried plenty of Cork GAA links among the matchday squad.

Shane Daly spoke this week about the special family resonance involved in his Páirc appearances.

His grandfather, Mick McCarthy, served as Cork hurling captain in 1963 and won a clutch of county titles at the old Cork Athletic Grounds.

The Glen Rovers clubman often lined out at full-back or on the wing, much like his grandson, only the sliotar has been replaced by the oval ball.

“He was always on my case about not being a hurler,” said Daly, who helped Munster to a 31-3 Champions Cup victory over Gloucester.

“I was always a Gaelic football player. I really enjoyed it, played with Bishopstown until about U16s, and then, as I was in Pres, I had to start focusing more towards one sport. The rugby took over from about 16 onwards.

“All my family is from Bishopstown, so I was brought up by my two sets of grandparents as my parents were working. I ended up just going off to the GAA club up there, even though I'm from the Frankfield/Douglas area. There was a bit of controversy over that.

“I used to go down and watch games at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and to even think of ever playing a rugby match there wasn't something I expected to do. 

"Once I switched fully from Gaelic football to rugby, I never thought it was going to happen. We're just lucky that the club is so well set up and puts these types of occasions on for us. 

It's a real privilege to be able to play in those games.” 

It was fitting so, back in November 2022, that Daly scored the historic first try at the Páirc when Munster shocked a South African touring side. The winger joyfully celebrated that moment by punting the ball into the Blackrock End crowd.

The GAA credentials of Daly’s wing colleague, Ben O’Connor, are clear. 

He captained Cork to the All-Ireland minor hurling title in 2021, helped St Finbarr’s to a first Cork senior hurling crown in 29 years in 2022, and signed off at the top with an All-Ireland U20 crown in his final game of hurling in June 2023.

GAA ENGINE

Daly identified a quality carried over from hurling as key to O’Connor’s rugby repertoire.

“Ben would just run all day for you. He's one of those fellas. He's got that GAA engine in him, and he's a great fella to have on your side,” Daly said.

He's just constantly working and trying to get involved and trying to help you out even when you don't have the ball, so I can't give him enough credit for that.” 

Daly and O’Connor competed in a cross-code crossbar challenge at the Páirc alongside Simon Zebo and Fineen Wycherley in the build-up. They each took turns at striking the City End woodwork with a football, rugby ball, and sliotar, with Daly coming out on top in the YouTube video.

“I was lucky now that Ben didn't have his best day with the hurley. We'd have been in trouble if he did. That was a bit of craic,” smiled Daly.

Niall Scannell has a similar connection to Daly’s. His grandfather, Donal O’Sullivan, captained Cork to the 1956 All-Ireland final, having lifted National League and Munster silverware earlier that summer. O’Sullivan later acted as chairman of the Cork County Board and Munster Council.

His grandsons, Niall and Rory, once formed a potent Douglas full-forward line alongside future dual star Alan Cadogan.

Fly-half Jack Crowley grew up wanting to be Joe Deane, but was better at football. In 2017, he won a Premier 2 Minor Football Championship with Valley Rovers. Playing at centre-forward, the Innishannon native scored two goals in the semi-final against Ilen Rovers and a goal against Kilshannig in the final.

His rugby coach at Bandon Grammar School was Regis Sonnes, who would later lead Toulouse to a Top 14 title and last month took up the role of Spanish women’s head coach.

POWER

When Crowley skipped a rugby session for a Valleys hurling match, Sonnes went to Brinny to observe. He later commented: "I saw first-hand the power of hurling. 

It is the best game to develop players for rugby.” 

There’s no shortage of links. Edwin Edogbo won a Sciath na Scol title with Rushbrooke NS at Páirc Uí Rinn. Fineen and Josh Wycherley lined out with St Colum’s. Gavin Coombes fielded for O’Donovan Rossa.

Meanwhile, John Hodnett was nicknamed The Rock, after legendary Rebel full-back Diarmuid O’Sullivan, during his hurling days with Carbery Rangers.