Cusack dismisses Dáil bid speculation

DONAL ÓG CUSACK has dismissed speculation he may shelve the rest of his hurling career to concentrate on a political role with Sinn Féin.

The long-serving Cork keeper, 33, has been linked with a potential general election bid on behalf of the Republican Party in the Cork East constituency.

He has a huge sporting profile having won three All-Ireland titles with Cork and first stepped onto the panel in 1996.

Cusack also won admirers late last year for becoming the first major Irish sporting figure to reveal he is gay.

The fact that he has fine-tuned his negotiating skills over the years during several rows between the Cork players and board officials as well as in his role as chairman of the Gaelic Players Association makes him an attractive candidate for political suitors.

But he moved quickly yesterday to nip the rumours in the bud and insisted, in the short to medium term at least, he is only interested in continuing his hurling career.

“I think what happened there was that I was invited (by Sinn Féin) to speak at an event,” said Cusack. “I did.

“Having said that, I want to go back playing with Cork and I don’t think you could marry both, especially given the current political climate.

“I think if you were going into that game you’d want to immerse yourself totally in politics and the challenge and the battle, if you like, that the country faces. I think it would be unfair to one if you were to marry both.”

Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony did, of course, combine his role as Mayo football manager with his Dáil Eireann activities for several years until his departure as the western county’s boss after the 2010 Championship.

Cusack clearly feels it’s not possible in his case, though when asked if a political career was something that interested him in principle he didn’t rule it out.

“Sure look, I’m a fella who likes watching what’s happening in the country, likes watching political programmes and I obviously have an interest in the country as well,” continued the Cloyne man.

“Like a lot of other people it’s something you would have an interest in.”

Cusack rejected the suggestion that his central role in the most recent Cork strike crisis early last year as well as his work with the GPA has primed him for political life.

“I don’t know about that,” he retorted. “There’s probably a big difference between going into Dáil Eireann and going into Croke Park.”

News of Cusack’s availability for another year will be a bonus to boss Denis Walsh and the ‘keeper hopes that fellow veterans such as Séan Óg O hAilpín and the O’Connor twins stick around too.

“They’re good guys to look after themselves and hopefully that will stand to them,” he said.

“I think the important thing for them is that, because that kind of (retirement) talk goes on, that they don’t listen to it and let it get inside you and start to believe it.

“Maybe then you start getting older before your time. As long as you’ve got the drive for it... but you do need to have the drive for it because taking part is one thing but it’s all about having the drive to win at this level.”