ROCK AND MOLE

Rebel analyst Sean now behind enemy lines and O’sullivan well aware of risks

BETTER the devil you know? Not so much, says Diarmuid O’sullivan, as a key member of Limerick’s backroom team will keep Cork guessing all week.

The little-known Sean O’donnell was a performance analyst with Cork hurlers for the last number of years, encompassing the 2016 and ‘17 campaigns when O’sullivan was part of Kieran Kingston’s management team.

But last winter O’donnell (right) moved to Limerick and, therefore, has more insight than most on how to decode Anthony Nash’s restarts.

O’sullivan describes O’donnell’s presence in the Limerick camp as “a major feather in their cap”.

He explains: “I presume Cork have been working away trying to change different patterns and styles of play for their puckout over the last number of weeks, just to throw Sean off the scent because he’s

excellent at his job.

don’t think you could find a better guy in the game of hurling to provide you with the kind of detailed information he can provide you with, and real-time information at that so Sean will be alive and Anthony knows that.

“Anthony is the type of guy, he won’t like someone to get the better of him so he’ll be working diligently to get this thing right.”

O’sullivan, speak- ing in his capacity as a Paddy Power GAA ambassador, said the feedback from O’donnell was invaluable during games.

“If lads are wired up, you can get real-time information as to who is struggling under puckouts, who’s winning most, where are you strongest.

“After 15 minutes of a game if you’re after a number of puck-outs, where is your strongest position to go to on the field? It’s real-time information. You can transfer that info straight down to Nasher, ‘Anthony look we’re getting a little bit of success here maybe try one or two more’ if it’s working or if it’s not ‘You have to change it up’.

“In Munster, you don’t puck the ball down on top of Padraic Maher, that’s a given, all goalkeepers will be aware of that so you’re looking for some other place.

“Once our management team disbanded last year I don’t think Sean had an interest in going forward with the current group.

“Limerick had tried to poach him on a number of occasions from us but he stayed loyal.”

Although Limerick beat Cork in the 2013 Munster final, their last knockout victory over the Rebels was in 2001.

The game is best remembered, however, for the iconic point by O’sullivan, who burst out from full-back and bar“i relled Jack Foley out of the way before sweeping the ball over the bar from his own 45.

“Look, I think Barry foley got a more important score in that game,” the three-time All-ireland winner admits.

“He put over a sideline I think from the 21-yard line, down into the City End terrace. That was sheer skill and pressure on him to execute the score.

“I think there was only two or three minutes left. Limerick won that game by a point.

“It was a match-winning score, so I’d always think back to myself on that game about his sideline. The execution under pressure was just phenomenal to be honest with you.

“If I got a euro for every time it was shown on Youtube I’d be a very happy man, I’d put it to you that way.

“Obviously it was an inspirational score. I’ll put it to you that ultimately we didn’t win.”

You couldn’t find a better guy in the game..