This man can’t be stopped.
Cuala got off to a belter of a start in their clash with Galway champions Liam Mellows in Semple Stadium on Saturday. Con O’Callaghan was lighting up the Thurles turf from the word go.
Watch as Con O’Callaghan scores a brilliant point for Cuala. pic.twitter.com/mTWkto5o2O
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 10, 2018
There’s an aura about Con O’Callaghan. He had two points racked up after less than ten minutes of play in this semi-final, and the Liam Mellows lads just didn’t know how to even to attempt to handle him.
They stood off him at times, for fear that if they got too close, he’d have them turned and would have the net rattled.
He’s one of them lads who’s just impossible to mark – and the Liam Mellows centre back Michael Conneely had the unenviable job on Saturday –Â because when you stand off him, he’s good enough, and he has the sense to pick a pass or to tap the sliotar over the bar as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
He was doing that all day in Thurles, and had four from play racked up after 40 minutes of the action.
O’Callaghan was the difference in this one. Liam Mellows were up for it and they had plenty of firepower themselves, with Aidan Morrissey and Aonghus Callanan showing potential up top.
But they were outshone.
That’s exactly what Con does. That’s what exactly what he did, and you couldn’t blame the Liam Mellows rearguard for bricking it every time the ball came near him – and in fairness to his Cuala teammates, they were supplying him with beautiful, inviting balls.
And it wasn’t all about his scoring, because he was setting up scores, making space and moving all over the field.
And he wasn’t on his own out there. Sean Moran was dominant at centre back, while Cian O’Callaghan behind him was solid. Jake Malone was energetic in midfield while David Treacy and Mark Schutte looked sharp.
Mellows rallied before half-time to reduce the gap to two points, but you just knew that Cuala always had something in hand. They had Con O’Callaghan in hand.
He was named man-of-the-match by the game’s end. They won by six, on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-11.
A late goal from Brian Fitzgerald sealed the deal.
Bring on Na Piarsaigh.
