DIAR DEVILLED BY DAMIEN..
Cahalane’s red card against Waterford haunts O’sullivan
DIARMUID O’SULLIVAN admits he’s haunted by Cork’s All-ireland semi-final loss to Waterford last year.
After coming from nowhere to win the Munster title, Cork were in control for long periods against the Deise at Croke Park.
But they lost their way after full-back Damien Cahalane (inset) was sent off in the second half and they were hit with three goals.
O’sullivan, then a Cork selector, says he curses himself for not making a switch moments earlier to avert the second yellow card.
He explained: “I remember a couple of minutes beforehand turning to Kieran [Kingston] and I said ‘Jesus, Damien is a long way out the field.’
“I said, ‘Ok, the next break in play we are doing to change it’. Damien was after getting sucked in and he had the yellow card got.
“He was in a position that he shouldn’t have been in. Just little things like that, they play on your mind.
“It was as much as our fault as anyone else’s. Damien just committed a foul and it was a yellow card and that was it.”
The loss marked O’sullivan’s last involvement with Cork seniors, for the time being at least. Manager Kieran Kingston stepped down afterwards and while he encouraged O’sullivan to remain part of the incoming set up if he wished, the Cloyne man felt a sense of loyalty and followed him out the door.
And as for succeeding him as manager, that certainly didn’t appeal. “Absolutely not, no. For my role within the set up, you’re probably talking between 20 and 30 hours a week, never mind what Kieran had, probably an extra 10, 12 or 15 hours a week on top of that with other various bits and pieces.
“No, no, couldn’t justify it at the moment.”
Cork are now in their second longest drought without an All-ireland, having failed to lift the Liam Maccarthy Cup since O’sullivan’s vintage in 2005.
They’ve won an All-ireland in each decade since their first title in 1890 and O’sullivan is confident they will maintain that record as they open their campaign against Clare on Sunday.
“If they keep progressing, I fully believe it will [happen]. Because obviously we’re proud and the history and tradition is there so to break that chain would be very disappointing.”