Those feckin’ talented dual players, the best and worst thing about your county.
The best because they’re a joy to watch. They’re inspirational, they’re role models and they’re the perfect fulfillment of the dream vision for the quintessential Gael. Dual players are what young Irish boys and girls were all supposed to be.
Then fixtures happened. County happened. Championship structures happened. School teams, different underage teams, exams, life all happened and it became harder and harder to realistically maintain the idea that you could be a top dual player for very long.
So they’re the worst breed now because they split the county in two. Everyone’s out for their own interest, be it football or hurling, and the poor lad who happens to love playing both is caught in the middle unintentionally upsetting people because it’s impossible not to.
Podge Collins tried to balance it in 2016 with Clare footballers and hurlers but, twice, he had to play inter-county games on back-to-back days and, besides, most managers wouldn’t allow it anyway.
The young and fiercely talented Con O’Callaghan chose Dublin footballers in 2016 over the hurlers and he has already gotten his hands on Sam.
But, Jesus, the hurling community in the county are probably looking on at Cuala this year and thinking what might have been.
The Dublin champions are through to the Leinster hurling semi-final and it was their frightening full forward Con O’Callaghan who led the way when he hit 4-3 from play against Borris-Kilcotton from Laois.
Twice in the first 10 minutes, O’Callaghan ripped the opposition net and he hit his hat-trick before the break as he set the tone for Cuala’s 11-point win.
In 2014, the student represented Dublin’s hurlers and footballers in the both minor Leinster finals but he captained the footballers and, there, was where he also tasted success.
For now, O’Callaghan is very much a hot prospect with Jim Gavin’s men but it doesn’t mean he’s any less of an idol with a hurl in his hands. After destroying Sunday’s opposition, his own club members swarmed him at the final whistle desperately looking for an autograph off the hero.
You don’t have to look too far for inspiration in the GAA and this picture sums up the beauty of it all.
But if he keeps playing this well, he’s only going to annoy some people who’ll want him all to themselves.
Leinster SHC quarter-final
Cuala (Dublin) 4-16 Borris-Kilcotton (Laois) 1-14
Oulart The Ballagh (Wexford) 2-13 St Rynagh’s (Offaly) 0-9
St Mullins (Carlow) 2-14 Raharney (Westmeath) 1-11
Munster SHC semi-final
Glen Rovers (Cork) 0-15 Patrickswell (Limerick) 0-14
Ballyea (Clare) 4-18 Thurles Sarsfields 2-22 (Tipperary) AET
Connacht IHC final
Ballyhaunis (Mayo) 2-13 Ahascragh-Fohenagh (Galway) 0-19
Waterford SFC final
The Nire 1-17 Ballinacourty 0-8
Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special
