O’Callaghan follows his true calling as Dubs on the march

WERE it not for a quirk of fate, instead of watching last Sunday’s exciting Tipperary/Cork Munster championship match on TV in his native Dublin, David ‘Dotsie’ O’Callaghan could well have been a central part of the action in Thurles.

His father, Paddy, is a Cork man to the marrow, and as a youngster David was often brought to places like Semple Stadium to see the Rebels in action. Even at a local level he had an interest and recalls being at a Cork county senior hurling final when another Dub with a Cork connection, Jason Sherlock, was in one of the team dugouts.

He said: “It was 1995 – Jayo spent a lot of time in Ballyhea and played with them at underage. He was on the bench that day – not togged out, just offering support. I would have been down to Ballyhea several times a year myself, I have a lot of relations there, but I don’t get down as much anymore lately. I’m still in touch though, talk regularly to the likes of Tim Griffin, my aunt Helen and James Browne, and they keep me informed on what’s going on.”

Though his love of hurling can be traced to his Cork roots, his loyalty now and always has been to his club, St Mark’s, to Dublin, and to Leinster. Tomorrow in Croke Park he lines out with the Dubs in the first game of a Leinster championship double-header with a difference; it combines hurling and football, with the hurlers on first, at 2pm, the football to follow two hours later; it will also feature Antrim’s debut in the Leinster senior hurling championship.

Only a few years ago, David would have been more concerned about what was going to happen in the second match. An outstanding dual star, in 2005 he decided to concentrate on the big-ball game and won two Leinster championship medals in that code. But all the time his first love was calling, and in 2008 he turned his back on inter-county football to resume his hurling career. After a stellar season he was rewarded with an All Star nomination, but individual success isn’t what drives the likes of Dotsie O’Callaghan – it’s all about team, all about winning championships. Normally there is very little expected of the Dublin hurlers. This year, however, with former Clare captain Anthony Daly at the helm, there is a growing excitement in the small ball community in the capital. A fine league campaign, during which a few major scalps were taken as their Division One status was comfortably retained, has added to that excitement. Ironically, and even as a Cork supporter, Anthony Daly and Clare were a major part of the Munster scene when David was a youngster, and Daly himself was one of the players he admired.

“I grew up with it, glued to the Munster championship as a young fella, and to the Leinster as well, obviously. But the Munster championship was special in our house, growing up. That was around the mid-90s, and I remember watching Clare, seeing them going on and winning the two All-Irelands, with Anthony as captain.

“He came across as an inspirational figure and that impression has been enhanced here. We were all delighted when he got the job. He has been fantastic, along with the other lads he brought on board – Richard Stakelum, Ciarán Heatherton, Vincent Teehan, they’ve all played their part. We’re enjoying working under them.”

It’s not just because of the work of Anthony Daly and his management team that Dublin have progressed to the point where they are now treated with respect by even the biggest hurling counties. For years Dublin have had a superb underage structure, and the work and dedication of those visionaries has also contributed hugely to their hurling advance.

“They set up the underage development squads years ago, and that’s starting to pay off. You have the likes of Liam Rush coming straight in off minor, a super hurler, still only 18; David Tracey is another – that’s two guys in their first year, two forwards with huge skill levels. There’s a core group of great hurling people in Dublin putting in huge effort, hopefully that will start to pay off now at adult level.”

Before they do so, however, they’re going to have to take care of Antrim, another team with growing ambition, another team that has put its faith in youth. Under the guidance of Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton and Dominic McKinley, and with outstanding young players such as Neil McManus and the brothers McGourty, CJ and Kieran, the northerners pose a difficult test.

It is a test neither David nor any of his team-mates will take for granted.

Another thing he can’t take for granted: support. During David’s days with the footballers, he could anticipate a full house in Croke Park every time the Dubs took the field – that’s not the case tomorrow. A pity, because those fans should be aware by now that winning the All-Ireland senior football title involves hurdling far more major obstacles than winning its hurling equivalent. If only they were to really get behind these hurlers, to get to Croke Park on time, how much more spectacle might they enjoy?

“There’s no point getting hung up on it. It would be great to have that crowd, that buzz, for hurling, but the crowd won’t win the game for you. If we can get the win, we move onto the next round, that’s what we want.”