O’Sullivan ready to come of age on big stage

PAUDIE O’SULLIVAN is only 21 but is already in his third year on the Cork senior hurling panel – quite an achievement for one so young.

Factor in the little added detail that before he was out of minor he had already played (and starred) in three Cork senior hurling county finals with his native Cloyne and was top scorer in the senior championship for two of those seasons. With the right attitude (and he has that in spades) and with a clear run, this guy is set for a long career.

A corner-forward with a real nose for goal, another east Corkman in the mould of the great Seanie O’Leary – great balance, low centre of gravity, superb acceleration over the short distance, fast hands – Paudie will this week be doing his damnedest to win a starting place in the Cork team that takes on Waterford in the Munster final in Thurles, and give that career a real kick-start.