O’Driscoll is a chip off the old ‘Blocker’
AARON O’DRISCOLL of Shelbourne is a chip off the old Blocker. The original was his father, Maurice ‘Blocker’ O’Driscoll, he of THAT photograph when Bohemians played Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup at Dalymount in 1993.
Surging between Bixente Lizarazu and Zinedine Zidane – four Zs and a fair few footie honours between them – O’Driscoll is a combination of strength, skill and balance on the ball.
‘My da has that photo at home. You can’t miss it,’ quipped Aaron.
Maurice confirms it’s on the mantelpiece in Kingswood, where it is appreciated by him more now than in the past.
‘I’ve grown to like it as I’ve got older. It reminds me of my experiences as a player. Maybe I did OK, you know?’ he said.
O’Driscoll was more than OK. He was a league winner with St Pat’s in 1990 – I was there when he scored in the title clincher at United Park.
He subsequently gave Bohs almost a decade of outstanding
‘WE GOT WORD HE WAS IN
THE HOSPITAL, IT WAS SCARY STUFF’
service, switching effectively to central defence from midfield.
Sadly, glory in the Extra.ie FAI Cup proved elusive.
O’Driscoll lost no fewer than six semi-finals, two with Pat’s (1988 and 1992) and four in a row with Bohs (1994, ’95, ’96 and ’97).
When he finally crossed the bridge of sighs with Bohs in 2000, he was left out of the match day squad by Roddy Collins, which hurt.
That final with Shelbourne went to a replay and it was Pat Fenlon, a former team-mate of O’Driscoll’s at Pat’s and Bohs, who pounced for the winner.
Shels haven’t won the FAI Cup since, but Aaron O’Driscoll will be giving his all to change that.
The 23-year-old centre-back has emerged as a key pillar of the Reds’ defence under Damien Duff this season and is set for a pivotal role against Bohs in today’s quarterfinal sell-out at Tolka Park (2.0).
‘Everyone is buzzing. It’s a Dublin derby and we’ve not beaten them in the league this season,’ he said.
When the teams met at Tolka last month, it finished 1-1 for the third time in the Premier Division, not that O’Driscoll can recall any of it.
In the first half, he shipped a whack on the head off Brendan Clarke’s knee and was knocked out.
‘I don’t remember any of it, not even the team talk, or being in the ambulance. I came around in the hospital,’ he said.
‘Apparently, I went for the ball, was nudged by a Bohemians player and I smacked into Clarkey’s knee. I was out cold.’
His father was worried. ‘We were on holiday in Spain, and got word that Aaron was in hospital. It was scary stuff. Thankfully, he was OK.’
Concussions protocols were adhered to and O’Driscoll got the all-clear a fortnight later to resume. Then again, he’s made of the right stuff.
‘Blocker’ will be at Tolka today, where he can’t lose really as he has a family tie on one side, and an affinity with his old club on the other.
‘I’d love to see Aaron do well. I’m probably his biggest critic, and definitely his biggest supporter. He’s done really well since he came back from England.
‘He had a great season at Longford, playing every week, and he’s settling in great at Shels. Joey O’Brien, who played in that position, has been a very positive influence for him.’
Aaron sounds like his father, with a hint of self-deprecation which masks a competitive drive.
He has had to bide his time to arrive at where he is now, after signing for Manchester City in his teens before a four-year spell at Southampton.
What was it like at the City academy? ‘The quality there was at a different level, you’d the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.
‘Foden was tiny. You’d see him and think “How can you trust him with the ball? And then, when he got on it, you knew straight away that he was something special.
‘I’d four years at Southampton. Good people, lovely club. Looking back, I probably should have gone out on loan and played men’s football somewhere earlier.’
When he finally got a first-team chance at Mansfield, there was a change of manager and Nigel Clough was reluctant to put faith in him. In early 2021, O’Driscoll was at a crossroads.
‘I suggested to Aaron that he come home to the League of Ireland, where he’d play regularly,’ said father Maurice.
‘A few clubs were interested but signing for Longford meant he’d be playing every week, which he did. It has helped his profile. In England, if you’re playing U23 football, no one really knows you.’
On the back of his lion-hearted efforts for Longford Town, Shels came knocking pre-season and O’Driscoll has loved every minute of working under Duff and O’Brien.
What’s Duffer like? ‘He’s very demanding. His coaching is some of the best I’ve ever got. And I’d say that even if I wasn’t at Shels.’
And in the dressing room? ‘Sometimes he’s calm, sometimes not so calm. If he feels the need to fire us up, he does.’
With a place in the semi-finals of the FAI Cup up for grabs, motivation won’t be a problem.
The duels between these neighbours have been as tight as a miser’s fist and, if the trend continues, it could come down to a set-piece today.
O’Driscoll set himself a target of at least two goals this season. What a time it would be to get off the mark, especially if it’s the winner.
Should that come to pass, his dad will be bursting with pride.