Whole new ball game for O’Leary’s Croker return

THE JOY and pride that swept through the O’Leary household in Glounthaune, Co Cork shortly after lunch time yesterday when they learned of the selection of Tomás on the Irish team to play the New Zealand All Blacks at Croke Park on Saturday next can be well imagined.

Not that big time sporting success is anything new for this family given that Seanie, the man of the house, boasts four All-Ireland senior hurling medals and Tomás himself skippered the Cork minors to All-Ireland glory in 2001.

Even then, though, the youngster was deliberating on his future, whether to stick with hurling or give precedence to rugby and he duly came down in favour of the latter when offered a place on the Munster Development squad in 2003.