Con O’Callaghan is only 21.
21.
Back in January, he had the hurling contingent of Dublin hoping he’d maybe, somehow be convinced to pledge allegiance to the sliotar this year after his goal-hungry performances with Cuala guided the club to a Leinster title and he was honoured with a provincial club player of the year award.
But if anyone thought that would be as good as it got for the underage dual star, they were more wrong than anyone has ever been wrong before.
On Sunday, Cuala reclaimed the Leinster club SHC title, swatting aside Kilcormac in the decider and O’Callaghan was the only man to ripple the net for the capital city outfit.
It completed what must be one of the finest ever individual years in GAA history.
O’Callaghan’s 2017 finishes with some extraordinary feats:
- three Leinster titles
- three All-Ireland titles
- An All-Star
- A Young Football of the Year
And more.
Con O'Callaghan's 2017 👑
All-Ireland club SHC 🏆
U21 Leinster football 🏆
U21 All-Ireland football 🏆
Leinster SFC 🏆
All-Ireland SFC 🏆
All-Star ⭐
Young Footballer of the Year 🏅
Dublin club SHC 🏆
Leinster club SHC 🏆That's a wrap 👏 pic.twitter.com/Hj777yDnuk
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 3, 2017
With the club, with the under-21s, with the senior footballers, O’Callaghan wasn’t just part of four different and four phenomenal campaigns, he was a leader in each and every one of them.
Dublin
One of the few things he didn’t win this year was the National Football League. Dublin didn’t win it, O’Callaghan wasn’t there for it.
When he was called upon for championship, he absolutely lit the place up. He built and built until he was one of the most important players on the team and his screamers against Tyrone and Mayo in the semi and final were two of the county’s most crucial goals in recent memory.
He was awarded at the end of the season for his individual displays.
Dublin under-21s
Another campaign, another All-Ireland.
He helped rip through Offaly in this final by turning provider with some of the cheekiest assists for team mates.
Cuala
All-Ireland in March before turning around and getting them into the last four again before the year was out.
All he’s missing now is the club football title. He should be happy enough with this lot for now though. He’s only 21, like.
