O'Sullivan: 'Things can change in a very short space of time'
Dublin footballer, Cian O Sullivan, pictured in his role as Sure ambassador at Croke Park. Sure is the official statistics partner of the GAA, uncovering the stories behind every move.
By Cian O'Connell
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These are glittering and glorious times for Cian O'Sullivan. Four All Ireland titles have been won in six years, but the Kilmacud Crokes never anticipated having such a haul when taking his first taking his first steps in the inter-county arena. "Playing for Dublin is such a massive honour, a privilege," O'Sullivan admits.
"The days when we are winning silverware, what better place to be? I'm very conscious of the fact this is not going to last forever. Really relishing and cherishing these days.
"I started out in 2009 and we got hammered by Kerry in a quarter final and then two years late we were lifting Sam.
"Things can change in a very short space of time and that’s something I am very aware and conscious of.
"Four All-Irelands with Dublin now, and if you were to ask me now starting out my career in 2009, is that something I would have envisaged, not a hope in hell. You really have to try to make the best of these days.
“I am not saying that Dublin weren’t capable of winning the All-Irelands, but for me personally to be involved and to play in four All-Ireland finals and win four All-Ireland finals in Dublin, at that point in time, because I was a sub on the team, it’s not somewhere I would have pictured myself."
Brian Fenton's emergence an example of what can be achieved according to O'Sullivan. In 22 Allianz Football League and Championship matches Fenton has been on a winning Dublin team on 20 occasions - the other two have been draws.
"I can’t say good enough things about Fento," O'Sullivan acknowledges. "If you met him and you knew you knew him you’d know that firstly, he’s just a great guy, really dedicated and committed and it’s no surprise that a guy like that has had this rise over the last year or two because he has worked his socks off to get there and I’m delighted to see him get his just rewards now.
Cian O Sullivan with the Sam Maguire Cup.
"He didn’t play much underage and then he came into the panel last year, you’re kind of saying ‘is this a guy that we’re going to see stick around for a while or is he a January to March player and then kind of fall off the squad into the summer?’.
"But yeah he got his chance and he took it, he’s just been improving game on game since and he’s become a key player for us. "What a guy to have and what a guy to find and have in our squad because he’s been a massive player for us the past two years."
O'Sullivan praised Fenton's admirable work ethic. "First impressions were like ‘no, this isn’t the superstar’, but he’s just a really attentive and diligent guy, if he was told - any feedback he received from management about what he needed to work on, he worked on that and he was extremely committed to getting into that team and he just improved training session on training session.
"Once he got his chance to start he’s just taken off from there. "It’s great to see that if you do want this and you’re willing to work hard enough and dedicate yourself to it that it can pay off.
"It’s never too late, similar with Mick Fitz (Fitzsimons), didn’t play any underage football with Dublin, didn’t play any underage football, didn’t play U-21s, was playing junior with the Dubs and got his opportunity, and another guy who is 100% committed and dedicated, a real diligent guy, he wants to play for Dublin and he’s willing to work hard to get there and it’s good to see that if you want that you can get it."
