Pa O'Rourke on his grá for Na Piarsaigh and building again from the ground up
Na Piarsaigh stalwart Pa O'Rourke in action at Ballinlough. Picture: Larry Cummins
Patrick O’Rourke has been a rock for Na Piarsaigh over the years, whose determination to represent his club holds no bounds.
Cruciate ligament injuries are devastating for players in any sport and O’Rourke has experienced them too often during his long career but always showed the drive to battle back.
GAA all started for Pa, as he is affectionately known, as a seven-year-old, and living in Bridevalley, across the road from the club, was convenient for him.
“I used to puck the ball around and one of the club stalwarts, Jim O’Sullivan, came over and asked me to join and, for many of my younger years, I enjoyed the summer camps at the club,” said O’Rourke.
“My mother and father never played hurling, but I suppose it came from my grandfather, Liam O’Connor, who played with Na Piarsaigh and Cork up to the age of 21, but, just like myself, damaged his knee at a very young age that forced him to retire."
Now 35, he has been playing with Na Piarsaigh seniors for 19 years having graced the pitch with Aisake Ó hAilpín in Ó hAilpín's last season before heading to Australia. He enjoyed four campaigns with club legends Seán Óg, Darren Mannix and John Gardiner.
The lack of success at Na Piarsaigh in recent years has been frustrating and they were relegated from the top tier in 2022.
“I remember as if it was yesterday playing Charleville in Mourneabbey as we had prepared good but we didn’t know too much about them as they had only won promotion and were competing in the top tier for the first time."
In a must-win game, Na Piarsaigh failed to deliver.
“We really struggled from the start and I can recall Darragh Fitzgibbon excelling along with many of his teammates. The bottom line is that too many of our team failed to deliver on the day and I remember shedding a tear or two after the game.”
Looking back on the relegation, O’Rourke believes it was inevitable.
“We were on a slippery slope for a few years and now we are on a serious mission to try and get back up to Premier Senior.”
O’Rourke has always tried to keep himself in the best possible shape and he is hoping that the young crop of Na Piarsaigh hurlers coming through will show extra commitment.
“I think, when you look at Patrick Horgan, he is the one example that working hard pays off, as he is one of the best club players in this country after an incredible inter-county career. That’s credit to his work ethic over many years.”
There is plenty of work going on in Na Piarsaigh to ensure progress continues.
“Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has put in savage effort with the underage teams over many years and can put together some outstanding training sessions and is the right man to give the youth of Na Piarsaigh the platform to compete at the top level.
“As a matter of fact we now have plenty of players at underage level but lack of coaches is a huge concern. You fix one problem and another arises but that’s the case for many GAA clubs I guess.”
Na Piarsaigh are in Division 2 of the league.
“Among our young players, we have DJ Coffey, Darren Scanlon, Conor Meaney and of course Ross O’Sullivan so I do believe there is good potential in the team.
“In reality, we are probably short a bit of strength in depth so we will be hoping to avoid injuries and who knows, come championship we will be ready for battle.
"The management team features Mark Mullins and James O’Connor with Christy Connery as coach. Seán Óg is the do-it-all man from fitness in the gym to the strength in conditioning on the pitch."
O'Rourke has never lost his grá for his sport and club.
Now living in Kerry Pike with his wife Emma and daughters Emily and Zara, Pa O’Rourke epitomises everything good about his beloved club.
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