O'Sullivan hungry for more success

Dublin Under-21 football captain Cian O'Sullivan has All-Ireland glory in his sights after skippering the Sky Blues to the Leinster title against Laois last weekend.

O'Sullivan is evidently hungry for more All-Ireland silverware after playing his part in Kilmacud Crokes' All-Ireland club final win over Crossmaglen Rangers last month.

O‘Sullivan said: "Game by game with the Under-21s, we have been building and getting stronger and we've always had the All-Ireland in sight and always had it as our main goal.

"We said that the Leinster title was a stepping stone towards that and hopefully we can go on and fulfil that goal

"We've underperformed and I think we have underachieved with our teams in the last few years so I think it was vital this year that we came away with some silverware.

"Now we have every intent to build on this and go and bring home an All-Ireland hopefully."

And O'Sullivan is keen to stay on the rollercoaster of success for as long as possible.

"I haven't really got the chance to sit back and take a rest from things. Things are piling on with college and everything and I’m training nearly every night of the week and stuff.

"But I wouldn’t swap it for the world. It's been a great experience.

"Last Sunday was fantastic and that winning feeling. To experience that with the club as well, I wouldn't trade it for the world," he added.

"In the last few years of underage football, Dublin have struggled in competitions at both minor and Under-21 level. We knew this year that we had to put all of those wrongs right and we needed to win some silverware.

"Laois have always been the team that have been a thorn in our side over the last few years so it was fantastic to come down here and beat them in their own backyard."

O'Sullivan and Paddy Andrews are amongst the Dublin players already with senior experience under their belts and O’Sullivan believes that last Sunday's win is a timely boost for Pat Gilroy's senior squad.

"There has been a lot of distraction with the seniors lately with lads injured and Crokes players being away with their club and they are just filtering in now and lads are just coming back to fitness.

"I think we saw the last day against Kerry we put in a great performance and I think that is a sign of better things to come from Dublin football.

"I think we are really shaping up to do a great performance this year so hopefully it all comes into play."

Firstly, an All-Ireland Under-21 semi-final against Cork is in O'Sullivan's sights.

The UCD student and his county colleagues have already faced the Rebels in a challenge game this season and he is cautious about the task ahead.

"You can never take too much from these pre-season challenge games because championship football is a totally different kettle of fish but it was a great challenge.

"No doubt it's going to be a great battle against Cork. It will be played at a fast tempo and there are some fantastic footballers coming up through there.

"Hopefully we can go on and do it but we'll have to do our homework. They are a very strong side.

"People say they only won by a last-minute goal against Tipperary but Tipperary were very strong also and they have been a strong side in Munster for the last few years so you can’t really read too much into that.

"We are going to be up against it against Cork."