Tomás O’Leary announced his retirement from professional rugby last week, but the Cork legend is gunning for a return to sport soon, with his local hurling club, Erins Own GAA.
The powerful and ever-reliant scrum half had some great days in the red of Munster, most notably in the 2006 season, when under the stewardship of Declan Kidney, the province achieved Heineken Cup glory, with the lively O’Leary a fulcrum to the team at scrum half.
O’Leary could easily have been lining out for a different team of the same colour, in the Cork senior hurlers, as his promising minor hurling career with the Rebels, for whom he is still the last man to captain to an All-Ireland championship, had him billed as their next senior star.
O’Leary had some great days representing his country, too, as he was a key man in Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam triumph, and was always a competitor for that coveted number nine jersey with Peter Stringer.
In fairness, he comes from good hurling stock, with his father, Seanie O’Leary, having won just the nine Munster titles and four Liam McCarthy’s across a legendary 13-year hurling career.
Speaking recently to Cork’s Red FM, O’Leary revealed his aims to return to the small ball soon.
O’Leary’s club, Erins Own, were beaten in the final of the Cork senior hurling championship last year, but he could be the boost that they need to get them over the line.
2018 is the date he is setting for his return, watch this space.
“Not this summer but hopefully next year. The Championship is at the latter stages, it could be a bit of an ask for me to try and come into the team.
“But come January and February and if the body and mind are still willing, I’d love to give it a crack next year!
“Get down to the bookies and back Erins Own for 2018,” he claimed.
An all-rounder, and we’d love to see it.
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