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O’Sullivan celebrates his goal. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Comeback

Munster title a 'dream come true' for O'Sullivan after nightmare year

The Cork forward had some dark days during his recovery from a leg injury but is chuffed to be back and scoring goals.

AFTER THE NIGHTMARE year he has gone through, Sunday’s super sub Paudie O’Sullivan must still be pinching himself today.

The 25-year-old forward came off the bench at half-time to score a goal and a point — helping Cork defeat Limerick and clinch their first Munster SHC title in eight years.

“It means the world,” O’Sullivan said. “Unfortunately in the last year or two years we have been on the wrong end of a lot of defeats in finals.

“To finally get a trophy on the board to show for all the hard work that’s been done the last three years with Jimmy (Barry Murphy) is a super feeling. To do it in our home stadium, home pitch, in front of our own fans makes it that much better.”

A horrific leg break suffered during a club game in April 2013 put O’Sullivan out of last year’s championship, before one of the bones in his foot didn’t heal properly and his leg got infected to set him back even further.

He admits losing faith at one stage while recovering in a Dublin hospital and can’t believe how his fortunes have changed.

It was probably the toughest part of my career, in life in general to be
honest, not knowing would I make it back form that,” he adds.

“Last November, December, January I was running around the steps of the stadium here with Declan O’Sullivan on my own and lashing wind and rain and everything. To be in a situation we are now with a Munster trophy on board, I certainly couldn’t have dreamt of it back then.

“The work that Deccie and Dr Con and everybody put in with me – I honestly couldn’t thank them enough. I suppose everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong with the injury.

“To make it back and be in a position now with a Munster medal is a dream come true.”

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