O’Sullivan hits new heights with City

Mark O’Sullivan is the man who has swapped the top of the house for the top of the table, his headed goal and all around man-of-the-match performance helping Cork City see off Shamrock Rovers 3-0 at Turner’s Cross on Friday to go two points clear in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

It’s the third time coming to City for the 31-year-old striker — a roofer by trade who has taken a year out to commit himself full-time to football — after he first failed to make the grade under Damien Richardson and then had another brief spell under Tommy Dunne in 2010. But City manager John Caulfield, who got to know the player well when he had him as a prolific goalscorer at Avondale, says he never doubted O’Sullivan’s ability to handle the step up.

“He’s honest, strong, has an absolutely fantastic attitude and really wants to prove he can do it at this level,” says Caulfield. “And he has two goals in five games but, more importantly, he’s probably created three or four more. I think the centre-backs around the country are wondering who he is and how can a fellow from junior football step up? The gap is massive and there’s only the odd few — but he’s one of them.”