'He meant so much to us': Sars captain pays tribute to Ray Ryan after Cork victory

“Everyone in that dressing room played with Ray, played for Ray, or was a close friend of Ray," said Sarsfields captain Conor O'Sullivan.

Sun, 19 Oct, 2025 - 20:05

Stephen Barry

Conor O’Sullivan dedicated Sarsfields’ eighth county final triumph to the man who nailed down the no. 6 berth for four of them.

Ray Ryan’s passing last February left Glanmire in mourning. His enduring influence was remembered in O’Sullivan’s acceptance speech after raising the Seán Óg Murphy Cup.

“Everyone in that dressing room played with Ray, played for Ray, or was a close friend of Ray, so everyone has a direct connection,” said O’Sullivan in the aftermath.

“It's not like there's degrees of separation between that team and him, so it's been in the back of our heads all year. He meant so much to us.

“When it happened at the start of the year, it was obviously the biggest thing that happened in the club for the year. We tried not to speak to it in a way to motivate ourselves because we just didn't want to do him a disservice, but he was in the back of everyone's minds.

“The club has lost a lot of people in the last few years who meant so much to people, so winning it off the back of that and giving something that hopefully people can find a bit of solace in – ultimately it's nothing in the context of that, but it just means so much to us now.”

For O’Sullivan, Craig Leahy, and Daniel Kearney, this was a sixth senior medal. The nine-year wait before number five has made the latter successes all the sweeter.

“We didn't know would we ever get back,” said O’Sullivan.

“At the start, they might have come a bit easy for us when we were 19 or 20, and we thought it was never going to end. But when you go through that hardship of losing a few, it means a bit more to you.

“We've had an absolutely amazing three years now. That really feels like it caps it off. It's just been so good.

“If you came out on the wrong side of it today, the difference between winning two in three years and only winning one in three years and losing two finals, that would be completely different.

“We really targeted it. Whatever about everything that happens after, the county is always first and foremost. Especially in a county like Cork, when it's so competitive.”

O’Sullivan’s goalline clearance was a vital moment to keep Sars’ cushion at five points.

“I was probably lucky enough to get to it. We probably had that 5-6 point buffer for the majority of the game.

“But Midleton were seven points down to the Glen, they were six points down to Blackrock, and they reeled them in, so we knew it wasn't over until the ref had picked up the ball and given us the cup.

“In fairness to Midleton as well, they had a really tough year. I knew Ger Fitzgerald and played for him at various times. He was a lovely fella. I didn't know Darragh McCarthy, but I know the way they spoke of him. They seemed to be putting those performances in for them.

“They lost two massive players as well today (Conor Lehane and Eoin Moloney), so my heart genuinely goes out to them as well. I wouldn't wish that on anyone going into a game like that, so fair play to them. They're a really good team with a lot of resolve.”

While Munster has been categorised as a bonus in previous years, this time Sars head into the provincial cauldron with a title to defend. They begin their campaign with a trip to either Ballygunner or Na Piarsaigh on November 16.

“We're under no illusions. The standard goes up a notch when you get into that competition. Conditions get tougher as well, but it's an absolutely fabulous competition,” said O’Sullivan.

“Bar one match, we've actually played quite well. We just never got over the line until last year.

“We had to pick ourselves up going into it last year, whereas now we have a good foundation going into it.

“We're absolutely going to drive on. We're a very ambitious group. We want to win every game we play, so we're going to drive on and go into that as far as we can.”