Tom O’Sullivan says late grandmother was with him in Dingle’s All-Ireland triumph

Tom O'Sullivan said he and his grandmother Maura were "best friends"

Tom O'Sullivan said the work his father Seán, chairman of Dingle GAA, does for the club was a motivating factor for him in the side's run to the All-Ireland title. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Tom O’Sullivan felt his late grandmother was with him as he helped Dingle to All-Ireland senior club glory in January.

Maura Murphy passed away on the day of Dingle’s enthralling extra-time final win over St Brigid’s.

Crowned AIB senior club footballer of the year on Friday, O’Sullivan’s Kerry commitments against Mayo in Tralee the following day meant he couldn’t attend the awards night in Dublin. However, his parents Treasa and Seán, Dingle chairman, were there to represent him.

Receiving the award, O’Sullivan paid tribute to his grandmother on what was an emotional day in Croke Park when he kicked two points in the second half of extra-time to guide Dingle to a famous triumph. 

“We were actually best friends, me and Maura.

“I felt her – you know the way people say that you feel a spirit? I’d be like, ‘Arra, it’s all your head’. But I actually felt her with us that day, especially in the last five minutes with the game kinda turned. The few plays I had at the end, maybe she was there. She was definitely with us and I’ll miss her.” 

O’Sullivan is one of several Kerry players whose fathers are heavily involved in their clubs. The Clifford brothers’ Dermot in Fossa, Paul Murphy’s Donal in Rathmore and Seán O’Shea’s namesake in Kenmare Shamrocks are among those who are on and have been part of their respective club executives. Paul Geaney's father, Paul senior, has also chaired Dingle.

O’Sullivan was additionally spurred on by the efforts his father Seán was putting in. “That probably is a bit of a motivating factor for me. I want to do him proud because I see the amount of work he puts in behind the scenes and trying to get development for our field and for sponsorship.

“In the lead-up to our All-Ireland, he was doing no work for maybe a month because he was constantly on the phone trying to organise things.” 

Meanwhile, Connacht GAA’s replacement Air Dome could be up and running next month weather permitting. The new dome arrived in the province’s centre of excellence in Bekan, Co Mayo on Monday having been constructed in Slovenia.

The original dome was destroyed during Storm Éowyn in January 2025 and the new version is said to be more robust. Total costs for the rebuild have yet to be confirmed. The facility outside Ballyhaunis, opened in 2020, was completed for slightly over €3 million.

In his annual report in January, Connacht GAA chief executive John Prenty admitted the loss of the dome was significantly felt. “The loss of the Air Dome has had far-reaching operational, financial, community, emotional and strategic impacts for Connacht GAA and the region’s wider sporting calendar.”