Cuala star Cian O Callaghan.
By Cian O'Connell
Cuala’s AIB Leinster SHC success in December brought a cocktail of joy and relief. Beaten by Oulart The Ballagh a year previously in the provincial decider Cuala produced when it mattered against O’Loughlin Gaels.
Cian O'Callaghan, who has emerged as a key figure for Cuala and Dublin recently, was delighted that Mattie Kenny’s charges triumphed. “I suppose last year we got ourselves into a really good position being in a Leinster Final for the first time in whatever, 26 years, and we obviously didn't perform at all after playing very well in every match up until that point,” O’Callaghan reflects. “So there was a bit of unfinished business there.
“At the start of the year, the Dublin Championship, we had six really tough games to get out of there. So that was really good to put ourselves in the position where we were in Leinster again to be able to atone for last year's defeat.”
What was the chief difference in Cuala’s approach? “I suppose when Oulart beat us a lot of people would have talked about the hunger in their team after losing so many finals, the fear of losing another one and being branded bottlers,” UCD student O’Callaghan says.
“That was driving us on a bit as well. You don't know how many times you're going to put yourself in this position where you are in a Leinster Final so we had a bit of experience after last year. Then there was a lot of hurt as well, a lot of lads who hadn't performed the previous year weren't willing to go through that again.”
During the past decade the mindset of Dublin hurling teams has altered significantly with O’Callaghan stressing the work being carried out in several clubs in the capital. “Yeah, when you think about it Crumlin won their Leinster title in 1979 or 1980 so that is too long for a Dublin team not to have won it. I suppose in the last three or four years, especially, and Ballyboden started it with their five in a row team.
“They probably were unlucky not to get a Leinster, but in the last few years every team that has come out of Dublin has been really strong. You can see the improvements that have come through all of the hard work that is going on underage and within the clubs.
“When I came on the scene Ballyboden were completely dominant. There was no team really putting it up to them, whereas now you have Jude's, Crokes, Ballyboden, Lucan, O'Toole's, ourselves so the strength in Dublin club hurling has improved 10 fold even in the past three or four years.”
Former Galway selector Mattie Kenny has made an impact as Cuala manager with O’Callaghan highlighting his influence in their success. “I mean Mattie is an exceptional manager, I suppose he has brought that ruthlessness to us.
UCD student Cian O Callaghan pictured at the launch of the Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup last month.
“We would always have been known as the posh southside boys and while we knew that wasn't true maybe on the pitch sometimes on the pitch we didn't want to know about it as much. Really in the past three or four years Cuala have become a team that other teams don't like playing.
“We are able to mix it with the big boys now and then play our hurling as well. Mattie really as a manager he drills it into you that you are not going to lose, you are going out there to win. Everyday you take to the pitch you are going out to win. That would be the message the whole time.”
O’Callaghan’s brother, Con, who won an All Ireland SFC medal with Dublin last October, has been influential for Cuala. “He has always had the potential,” O’Callaghan remarks about his siblings hurling prowess.
“It wasn't too long ago that he was playing Dublin minor hurling, it is only two years. I think people were a bit surprised at how fast his touch came back, his touch is nearly better now than when he was training full-time. I don't know what he is eating, but it seems to be doing the trick.
“In my house I suppose I have been known more as a hurler since I was about under 16 and when he got to under 16 he became known as a footballer. Up until that point we would have both been known as dual players.
“I suppose he kept that going with the Dublin minors, he played both. Just on the Dublin thing, I'd say his dream since he was about 13 or 14 was to play for the Dublin senior footballers. So I suppose he is doing that now so I'm not going to be able to tell him, it isn't up to me to make that decision. Whatever he thinks he should do, he should do.”
