Rising star O’Sullivan chasing second league crown

At 19, Cork’s Doireann O’Sullivan boasts a CV the envy of many.

The Mourneabbey player is a two-time TG4 All-Ireland senior medallist and a Munster senior championship winner from 2012.

And on Saturday at Parnell Park, O’Sullivan is hoping to claim a second Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 1 crown in three seasons.

But the 2014 campaign has been one of transition for Cork, following the retirements of goalkeeper Elaine Harte and ‘puppet-master’ Juliet Murphy.

O’Sullivan’s abiding memory of Murphy is from last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final – when Cork staged a staggering comeback from nine points down to win by four against Dublin.

O’Sullivan recalls: “We went in at half-time and we were in an okay place. They (Dublin) came out all guns blazing and we weren’t ready for that.

“A few of were panicking on the ball, small things like getting passes wrong or fumbling the solo.”

Then Murphy intervened.

“There was a break in play, one of the Dublin girls went down and she called the six forwards in and spoke to us. She’s just an incredible leader. She’s like a puppet-master – she pulls all the strings and (is) someone to look up to when things are going badly.”

Cork have slowly adapted to life without Murphy and Harte to reach a seventh successive Division 1 final, despite losing to Kerry and Monaghan.

And O’Sullivan is “unsure” about the future of another eight-time All-Ireland senior medallist, Nollaig Cleary, who is contemplating her intercounty future.

O’Sullivan revealed: “Unsure – I think she’s making up her mind after the League.

“She came back just before the semi-final of the League last year. She got married there over Christmas so I’d say it’s taking her a bit longer this year! Hopefully she’ll be back.”

And O’Sullivan recalls how Harte, Cleary and Murphy were just three of the vastly experienced Cork stars who welcomed her into the fold when she came on the scene.

“This is my third year. 2012 was my first season. I was only 17 and (they) could probably tell I was nervous. But they were really helpful, gave advice and them passing you the ball in the match is a big thing.

“They obviously trust you – that’s important. The last couple of years, there’s a good balance between young and old.”

O’Sullivan’s sisters Ciara and Roisín are also key members of the Cork squad. Ciara has recovered not once but twice from cruciate knee ligament damage and played in the 2012 decider despite suffering injury in the semi-final that year. Doireann confirms: “She played the All-Ireland after doing the cruciate – gym twice a day with Declan O’Sullivan. She’s good now.”