Ciarán O'Brien: 'She was a GAA mother, and they are just a special breed. Thank God we had her'

Emotion spilled out of Imokilly captain Ciarán O’Brien at the final whistle in the county final. A special person was missing that day. 

Imokilly's Ciaran O'Brien celebrates the Cork SHC final win over Sarsfields with his family. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

The person missing was the person minding him. Watched over until he no longer needed watching. Well, for this particular afternoon anyway.

When the curtain fell, so too did Ciarán O’Brien. All strength and self-control deserted him. After an hour of closing off avenues, the corner-back was now emotionally exposed.