 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Full-back | ||
| Born |
27 July 1978 Cloyne, County Cork, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Nickname | The Rock | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | Apps (scores) | |
1995–2020 1996–1997 |
Cloyne Imokilly | 56 (16-91) | |
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 1 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1997–2009 | Cork | 48 (0–03) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 5 | ||
| All-Irelands | 3 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 4 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 22:23, 9 February 2014. | |||
Diarmuid O'Sullivan (born 27 July 1978) is an Irish hurling coach and hurler who plays for Cork Premier Championship club Cloyne. He played for the Cork senior hurling team for 12 years, during which time he usually lined out as a full-back. A fan favourite who was noted for his swashbuckling style during his inter-county career, O'Sullivan is considered a "Cork legend".[1][2][3]
O'Sullivan began his hurling career at club level with Cloyne, for whom his father Jerry O'Sullivan, had also played. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 16-year-old in 1995 and enjoyed his greatest success two years later when the club won the 1997 Cork Intermediate Championship title and promotion. O'Sullivan has made 90 championship appearances in three different grades of hurling for the club, while his early prowess also saw him selected for the Imokilly divisional team with whom he won the 1997 Cork Senior Championship.
At inter-county level, O'Sullivan was part of the successful Cork under-21 team that won back-to-back All-Ireland Championships in 1997 and 1998. He joined the Cork senior team in 1997. From his debut, O'Sullivan was ever-present as a defender and made a combined total of 110 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 2008. During that time he was part of three All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1999, 2004 and 2005. O'Sullivan also secured five Munster Championship medals and a National Hurling League medal as captain of the team. As a dual player at the highest level, he won a Munster Championship medal with the Cork senior football team in 2002. O'Sullivan announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 12 May 2009, instead opting to transition to rugby, where he had stints with Cork clubs Highfield[4] and Midleton. [5]
O'Sullivan was named Young Hurler of the Year in 1999 while he also won his first All-Star that year. He claimed a further three All-Stars in 2000, 2004 and 2005. At inter-provincial level, O'Sullivan was selected to play in five championship campaigns with Munster, with his sole Railway Cup medal being won in 2000.
- ^ Hickey, Paddy (27 June 2001). "Hassett comeback adds to Kerry's defensive options". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ Humphries, Tom (11 September 2004). "Back line built on a solid Rock". Irish Times. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ O'Donoghue, Denise (30 July 2018). "Diarmuid O'Sullivan says disgruntled Cork hurling fans were 'an absolute disgrace'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Sully's explosive power well suited to rugby field". Irishtimes.com. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
legendary Cork full back Diarmuid O'Sullivan about his decision to join Highfield and finally try his hand at rugby
- ^ "Podcast with former cork hurler Diarmuid O'Sullivan". Benchwarmers.ie. April 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
took up club rugby with Highfield and Midleton Rugby clubs