Tullow Tank ready to explode into action

IT’S been a busy few days for Sean O’Brien.

Last Wednesday he was at a fundraiser for his club Tullow RFC. Thursday was spent helping a Leighlinbridge sports society raise money for a sports centre. On Friday, he was busy with Leinster. At the weekend he was back training Kilbride GAA club as they prepare for the Carlow senior championship and then there was the Ulster game in the RDS.

In a county with such limited success as Carlow, Sean is the biggest thing to come along since Sean Drea was smashing records on the world rowing scene.

Coming home is meant to be a place to relax. But he knows he can be useful to the clubs and communities who helped forge him and rarely turns down a request. The build-up to a Heineken Cup final is a time to maximise his profile.

“I’m involved with GOAL and loads of charities at home,” he said.

“I always do any fundraising that’s needed at home be it for the local GAA club, Tullow RFC, cancer care... there’s a lot of charities like that I’m involved in. I’ll always give them a hand when they ask. One of the lads asked me recently ‘do you ever say no?’ and to be honest I don’t, where I can help it.”

A raging bull on the pitch, he’s just a quiet country lad off it. A polar opposite in many ways, not just to his image but also the perception of what a Leinster player should be.

Being mentioned alongside Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip as Leinster’s big threat in a European Cup final should change a man but being known as a good neighbour is more important. That’s why he’s trying to do as much for his community as he can.

Training his old schoolmates in Tullow RFC is another responsibility which can’t be ignored. He matches the work put in by his friends and tries to help them reach their potential.

At a training session a couple of days before the Heineken Cup final the squad were short a number eight for a training drill. Sean, who was trying to teach a new move, went into the dressing rooms, threw on his gear and ran the plays.

“It’s easy to come home and relax, they don’t expect me to come down and do anything different with them in training,” he said.

“I realise there are different requirements for players at this level and I’m not coming down trying to give them the most complicated technical stuff we’re learning with Leinster. There’s a big difference as well from playing to coaching and the way you treat people. At the end of the day though the lads just look at me and say, ‘that’s just Sean from down the road’.

“It’s why I like going home. It’s not as if I have any hassle or pressure in Dublin but when I get home I get to see my family and nephews.

“The way it is back home too is that they’ll let you know about it straight away if you’re big headed. It’s great to keep you grounded.

“I’d like to think that regardless of what I do I’m the same way I’ve always been since I joined Leinster. There’s a lot of craic and banter at home about it but I don’t think I’ve changed, if anything I’m more conscious of trying to get home more often and give a little bit back to the community, especially when things are going well.”

Outside the east Carlow town he’s been christened the Tullow Tank. When asked about it, he laughs it off. He doesn’t pay too much attention to what people he doesn’t know say about him, good or bad. He didn’t even know that statistically he has been the best player in the Heineken Cup so far for Leinster.

Getting caught out by believing the hype will carry him over the gain line every time is something he wants to avoid. On Monday he was told Carlow County Council were giving him a civic reception alongside horse racing trainer Willie Mullins.

That’s for another day. Saturday is all about getting a big win and, like his team mates, he won’t read much into the favourites tag.

“Some lads might talk about it amongst themselves but it largely goes unsaid. We’re all humble enough to know what to expect and not to be cocky and that’s the most important thing.”

With such a sudden rise, this game is the biggest in his early career.

“I think this Heineken Cup final will mean a lot more to me. I was involved in 2009 but I only came off the bench in the semi-final and didn’t play in the final. It was a good experience. At the time you’d be thinking ‘why aren’t I getting more involvement in games?’ but you learn over time.

“This time around I’m conscious that we all have roles to play and I’d relish it a lot more if I was selected.

“Of course I was delighted when we won last time but it would be sweeter this time for everyone. Everyone played a lot of big games this year and there’s 34 lads who have earned the right to play this game.

“The whole occasion from the 2009 final will benefit us in our preparation. We all have our own ways of preparing and everyone is different. For me I won’t change anything, I’ll do the same as it were for any game.

“We’ve had a lot of big games over the last year and that will stand to you for things like that.

“All the lads, the whole squad has got to experience a big game and big occasion. I don’t think we’ll show any nerves because of that. We’ve learned to deal with these situations and stay nice and calm.”

But no matter what happens or how he plays, he’ll return to his home place as Seanie from down the road.