'It gives you a boost' - Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan grateful for John O'Shea's support

Cork City's Cathal O'Sullivan at the announcement of EA SPORTS FC's return of the League of Ireland and their club packs. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
After the news broke that Cork Cityās talented playmaker Cathal OāSullivan had suffered the second Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury of his promising young career, his phone began to buzz with messages of encouragement from the League of Ireland community.
OāSullivanās former City boss Tim Clancy, who had given him his first team debut, had kept in regular contact with the 18-year-old regardless while Republic of Ireland under 17 manager Colin OāBrien also reached out.
But there was also an unexpected text of support from an unknown number that surprised OāSullivan.
āThere was a load of managers that text me but probably the one that stood out is John OāShea text me,ā he admitted.
āI havenāt really talked to John much, but he gave me text, and it means a lot, it gives you a boost. A random number popped up on my phone, I didnāt expect it.ā
O'Sullivan, who had been attracting interest from several clubs including Brentford, Crystal Palace and Celtic, is now just over two months into his rehabilitation from the injury he suffered in the loss to Sligo Rovers at the end of July.
He will meet his surgeon for a routine check-up in two weeksā time, but he admits āeverything is going swiftly, no problemsā having discarded of his crutches recently.
April remains the target for a return action but for which club remains to be seen as his current Cork City contract will have expired by then.
āIām going to have to take my time with rehab and stuff like that and whatever happens in the future happens,ā he adds.
āI canāt answer right now (where he will be). I donāt know, I donāt know. Right now, Iām a Cork City player and thatās the way Iām looking at it.
āI should do (have options). Any young player at Cork City will look at Jake (OāBrien) and be like thatās the route I want to go down, sure heās playing in the Premier League every week and thatās my aim as well.
āRight now, I donāt have a pinpoint to where I will be, right now Iām a Cork City player and thatās the way Iām looking at it.
āI donāt think you have to be (fit to move clubs). It would obviously be the best thing that you could do but I donāt think you have to be.
āFor me I could go over and just finish my rehab somewhere if I want to, it would be an option. Iāve already done this (ACL) once, Iāve done it twice now and if I can come back from this and hopefully stay injury free for a good while I can go out and do my thing. Iāll do it.ā
But until then, OāSullivan will remain a supporter of Cork City in the stands, continuing on Friday night when they host St Patrickās Athletic at Turnerās Cross in the FAI Cup semi-final, which is a repeat of their last four showdown from 2023, which the Saints won 2-0.
āI was in the Shed End for that game. It was mental, it was over full if anything. As a kid I went to all the games with my brother and stuff like that,ā he remembers, although he knows he should be on the pitch this time around.
āThe cup semi-final is a huge game. It (his injury) couldnāt have happened at a worse time.ā
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