James Horan: ‘Tom O’Sullivan during the whole game, when things were good and bad, was exceptional’

EXCEPTIONAL: Dingle’s spirit and refusal to yield were encapsulated in Tom O’Sullivan’s performance, according to former Mayo manager James Horan. Picture: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

Dingle’s spirit and refusal to yield were encapsulated in Tom O’Sullivan’s performance, according to former Mayo manager James Horan.

Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic football podcast, available to all Examiner subscribers, Horan heralded the Kerry star, who kicked six points to help his club overcome Ballyboden St Enda’s after extra-time.

“It is funny, I watched the game back again the day after just to get a proper flavour it because during it, you are caught up, the big comeback is on, the extra-time, everything that goes with it, your opinion of the game might be slightly higher than it should be.

“If you go back and look at the first half of that game, Ballyboden could and probably should have been out of sight. The amount they missed, they weren’t difficult chances. Dingle’s first half, from a lot of their players, wasn’t what it should have been.

“The exception to that was Tom O’Sullivan. The amount of ball that he carried, the amount of running he did in the first half, was phenomenal. It was right through the game. The scoring came as a result of his incisive runs and the amount of ball he got.

Paul is getting a huge amount of deserved plaudits, I thought Tom O’Sullivan during the whole game, when things were good and things were bad, was absolutely exceptional.” 

Several of their big players stood up after half-time. Paul Geaney came on and kicked eight points. Mark O’Connor was a huge presence in the middle. Conor Flannery was outstanding at six.

“Mark O’Connor, quiet at times, but grew stronger and stronger as the game went on,” said Horan.

“He is not without a fair share of skill either. I think his footpassing and handpassing is top level. It is always into the sweet spot of the runner. The foot pass is top-spin, bounce into the attacker. Their big guys did come strong. Paul (Geaney) coming on then added to the fairytale that the Dingle story is becoming.”