O'Brien: 'This year it feels like we have 30-odd fellas that could make an impact at any time'

“We've had 15, 20 good fellas the last few years, but this year it feels like we have 30-odd fellas that could make an impact at any time in a game. That is the big difference.” 

IMPACTFUL PANEL: Colin O'Brien of MICL in action against Gary Cullinane of SETU Waterford during the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final match between Mary Immaculate College Limerick and SETU Waterford at Mallow GAA Complex in Cork. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

It’s Friday lunchtime. Colin O’Brien is on his way from North Cork to Banna beach. There are 24 hours to the Fitzgibbon Cup final. And with the semis having been played as recently as Wednesday evening, every bit of recovery that can be squeezed in is being squeezed in.

O’Brien is the Mary Immaculate College captain. He’s also the sole Cork starter on the Mary I team. With their manager, Jamie Wall, also a proud Rebel passport holder, we can’t resist the jibe that it’s no coincidence he ended up with the captaincy.