Cathal O'Sullivan says he is 'as clueless as most people' when it comes to rumoured Cork City departure

The 18-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Crystal Palace in recent months having met the FA Cup winners’ hierarchy back in May, but City have yet to receive a formal bid for the attacker, who is also attracting interest from Brentford amongst others

Cathal O'Sullivan of Cork City. File picture: James Lawlor/Inpho

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025 - 10:28

Andrew Horgan

Cathal O’Sullivan has insisted his focus at the moment is on helping Cork City avoid relegation despite growing speculation linking him with a move to England.

But speaking following City’s narrow 2-1 loss to Celtic at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night, O’Sullivan maintained he is happy on Leeside.

“Genuinely, with everything in the media at the moment, I'm kind of just reading it and being like; ‘oh, that's actually happening?’ I'm as clueless as most people,” said O’Sullivan.

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“But look, I'm a Cork City player at the moment. That's the way I'm looking at it. And just the future will tell, I guess.

“But look, realistically, I don't really get involved in any of that. I wouldn't come out and say, ‘oh, yeah, I'm moving in the next two weeks.’ But I'm a Cork City player at the moment. I'm happy where I am.

O’Sullivan played the first 45 minutes against the Hoops in the Cork Super Cup in what was his first start for City since their 4-1 loss away to Shamrock Rovers on June 20.

But the former Leeside AFC playmaker admitted he needed a break after returning from Republic of Ireland U21 duty, where he made his debut in the closing stages of their 1-0 loss to hosts Croatia before playing the full game in the 0-0 draw with the Qatar U23s a few days later.

“The manager has been giving me a rest, to be fair, because I didn't really get a break,” added O’Sullivan.

“We played out in Croatia, it was roasting out there, so mentally and physically (tired).

“When I came back, I just think I needed a break as well personally. So, it was kind of a decision between the both of us. But yeah, I'm back now fully fit, fully feeling well.

“Look, players have been doing well. Alex Nolan in my position, they've been flying it. So hopefully I can be back in the team Friday.” As for Friday, City head to Munster rivals Waterford knowing that they need to start getting some wins on the board if they are to avoid dropping into the First Division for the third time in five years.

The Rebel Army are currently bottom of the table, five points behind Sligo Rovers in ninth and a massive 12 points behind the Blues in eighth.

After starting on the bench in their last three league outings, O’Sullivan is hoping his display in the first half against Celtic is enough to see him return to the starting line-up at the RSC.

“It’s definitely the level that I obviously want to go to, just personally,” said O’Sullivan on the challenge of facing Celtic.

“But it was definitely a good workout for us. Definitely something we can build on now for Friday night.

“I suppose even though our trainings are very top, top, but with that Tuesday now and then we'll come back in Thursday knowing we'll probably have a look at a few things over that game now and show what we can work on.

“Because I thought personally, we played well. Our shape and all that stuff against a top, top team. But yeah, definitely, definitely better than a training session, definitely.

“A lot of positives (to take). Even the manager said it. It was kind of just more like, get minutes for everyone in that game.

“No matter what the score was, it was just a great day out. But definitely you'd rather that all week than training sessions all week. It'll be a good momentum shift.”