Sheehan focused on day job as Blues block Ireland’s call

Ciarán Sheehan is philosophical about his club Carlton’s decision not to release him to play for Ireland in Saturday’s test against Australia.

By order of the Blues, both the Corkman and Louth’s Ciaran Byrne were not permitted to join up with Paul Earley’s squad, while their clubmate Zach Tuohy elected to concentrate on his preseason work.

Sheehan, player of the series in 2013, was in Sandringham yesterday to watch his old comrades in action. On Saturday, he gave his former Cork team-mates Colm O’Neill and Aidan Walsh a tour of Carlton’s facilities.

He would dearly love to be lining up against Australia next weekend but fully appreciates where his employers are coming from.

“It’s my job at the end of the day and you absolutely want to play for your country but you’ve got to train hard and you’ve got to be there for pre-season, and that’s the choice that was made and that’s it.

“It’s great to come down and support the lads and see them run around. I wish them all the best next week. For me, it’s back to the serious stuff.”

After four Premiership appearances for Carlton last season, Sheehan believes he’s in the right position to make the next step in 2015. “I think it’s important to set goals and hopefully I can play a few more games and try and get into that first team. I’m going to stick at it, put the head down over preseason and get the body right, hopefully stay injury-free and get a good run at it. I’m as happy as I can be. Last year I was trying to learn the game and get my whereabouts and see where I am in terms of the standard I had. I’m taking it step by step and hopefully I can get to the top of that ladder.”

The main issue for Sheehan was learning the ropes of what Australian Rules demanded of him.

“The biggest challenge was understanding the game. It’s a different game in terms of where you’re supposed to be at certain times. It’s a big difference to Gaelic football and it’s something that takes a bit of time to get used to.

“You’re doing it every day, you’re getting up at 6 or 7 every morning and training at the same time every day. Obviously nothing is going to come right straight away. I’m not quite there yet but hopefully it will happen soon.”

What’s been something of a wretch for Sheehan, who turns 24 on Wednesday, is seeing his club Éire Óg win a county intermediate title without him. He was ecstatic when they beat Rockchapel last month but how he’d have loved to been a part of it. “I said to them that all they had to do was get rid of me (to win it)!” he laughs. “No, it was hard for me to see but I was delighted for everyone. We’d been there or thereabouts for the last few years and it’s great to see them do so well. To win a league (Division 3) and a county, it’s amazing. It does get tough, you think of home so much when you see things like that happen but it’s about getting on with it and hopefully they’re senior by the time I get back.

“We have some very good players and hopefully we can progress. It might take time because we have to raise our game but the lads have had a great run this year and are showing the promise they can make that jump.”