Talk about one hell of a year.
Con O’Callaghan may have completed the single greatest year in GAA history. The list of accolades is unparalleled.
- All-Ireland Club SHC
- U21 Leinster Football Championship
- U21 All-Ireland Football Championship
- Leinster SFC
- All-Ireland SFC
- All-Star award
- Young Footballer of the Year
- Dublin Hurling Championship
- Leinster Hurling Championship
Yep, not a bad year whatsoever.
O’Callaghan may not have been known outside the Dublin GAA circles at the start of 2017 but, by God, he had made himself known by the end of it.
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
The 21-year-old has been cleaning up in both football and hurling. You’d better believe Pat Gilroy would take him in a heartbeat. He’s a once in a generation talent that seems to have the perfect game in both codes.
But it hasn’t always been that way, like anyone, Con O’Callaghan has had to work incredibly hard on his game over the years and fine tune everything. Nothing comes easy.
He knows that, the Dublin fans know that and Dean Rock knows that.
Look back at this goal! Con O'Callaghan's 1st half strike for @DubGAAOfficial vs @TyroneGAALive in today's All-Ireland Semi-FInal #DUBvTYR pic.twitter.com/TsxKPbUFEG
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 27, 2017
Rock returned to Croke Park to help launch the Future Leaders Transition Year programme and was impressed by O’Callaghan’s attitude and hard work:
“Con is one of these guys that if he tried anything I’d say he’d be good at it,” Rock said “Con has worked extremely hard on his game. Although he’s an extremely talented young man he’s had to work at that.
“I’m sure there are lots of Con O’Callaghans around the country, whether they’re 10 or 12 years of age, but he worked really hard at his game and he’s getting all the rewards now and he’s showcasing all his talents because of all the hard work that he’s put down through the years.”
In every club, there is that one endlessly talented guy that fell through the cracks. The guy that had the speed, power, build and skill to make it but didn’t. He never applied himself but could have easily made county panels. This didn’t happen to O’Callaghan, he was driven.
“Everyone can sit back and rest on their talent but you’ve got to get out there and work as hard as you can,” Rock added “I’ve witnessed it at first hand, whether it’s at the gym on or the pitch, he’s a guy that applies himself day in day out and if you can do that you can do what Con O’Callaghan is doing. It’s brilliant for him. Hopefully, he can have a bit of a break over the Christmas and come back and win another All-Ireland club title with Cuala.”
Rock can remember O’Callaghan making an early impact in training. He hit the ground running:
“He was just head down and working as hard as he can. Trying to go out and impress by playing football. He’s a very naturally talented footballer. Even back then (in 2016) he always had an eye for goal and wasn’t shy about taking his man on. He got into the panel in 2016 and he hasn’t looked back since. “
It’s not all going to be winning for O’Callaghan. The likelihood is that he’s going to lose plenty of games in a Dublin jersey over the years but there is no fear of him being complacent. The Cuala forward is humble in everything he does and knows that in the blink of an eye it can all be gone. All of the Dublin team are the same:
“I suppose that’s one of the traits or characteristics that associates most of the guys on the Dublin team,” Rock continued.
“They’d be very honest and humble. Con is no different. Con is the same as myself or any of the lads, just wanting to go out and represent Dublin and their club and do as best they can. There would certainly be no ego involved or gloating or anything like that. It’s an amateur game and we love what we do. We understand we make a lot of people happy in terms of what we do as well. He’s a very talented young man.”
O’Callaghan’s talent is endlessly impressive but it’s not the best thing about the 21-year-old. It’s his desire to work hard and defy the odds over and over.
