Limerick man plays pivotal role in Cork camogie backroom team

LIMERICK native Adrian O'Sullivan has played a key role in the Cork camogie backroom team this year. O'Sullivan replaced Cappamore native Liam Cronin as coach of the Cork camogie side in 2025. 

The Rebels face Galway in the All-Ireland senior camogie final on Sunday at 5:15pm in Croke Park. O'Sullivan has ably assisted Cork senior camogie manager Ger Manley this year. 

Cork are aiming to win their third All-Ireland senior camogie title in-a-row on Sunday evening. Ger Manley's side got the better of Galway in last year's All-Ireland final. 

"The girls have been there the last four years in-a-row now, it's probably me that is bringing that bit of giddiness and excitement to things. There is a good buzz around the place, the whole lot of us players and management are very much looking forward to the occassion," said O'Sullivan.

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O'Sullivan was surprised to get a phone call from Ger Manley to get involved with the Cork camogie team this year. 

"Ger Manley the Cork manager would have been involved with Cork back when I was managing Dublin and we had a couple of very competitive games against them in that championship. He just rang me out of the blue to be honest, I was actually supposed to be going in with a different team.

"He just rang out of the blue and asked would I be interested in having a chat about coaching the team, it was definitely a surprise to get the call. Once the opportunity came, I didn't hesistate you couldn't turn it down a massive opportunity with a class team."

A native of west Limerick, he coached the Westmeath senior hurling team to a Joe McDonagh Cup final in 2019 and was also part of the Limerick camogie backroom team that guided the Shannonsiders to the All-Ireland intermediate camogie title in 2013.

"Cork teams haven't had many outside coaches over the years and to be on the inside of a Cork camp in the run up to the All-Ireland is definitely a unique experience. It's probably not an experience, I thought I would have in my career. I'm lucky enough, I've experienced a few All-Ireland finals over the years. I was in a Joe McDonagh Cup final with Joe Quaid as manager with Westmeath. We had a really succesful period with Limerick camogie around 2013 and when we picked up minor and intermediate All-Ireland titles. I'm going to try and soak it all in and enjoy it," added O'Sullivan.

He previously managed the Dublin senior camogie team, but O'Sullivan believes he is now a better coach than a manager.

"Personally, I think I'm a better coach than a manager. In the modern game at inter-county level. When you're managing maybe only 20 per cent  of it is actually related to the game. It''s like managing a small business, you've the county board, the players and the management team so look it's a huge task. Sometimes, I found when I was manager of Dublin, you're time is spent on stuff that isn't to do with the game.

"That's why I enjoy the coaching so much, you can shut out the outside noise, it's just you and the players trying to improve every night on the field. I think for the forsseable future, my future will be with boots on grass and the whistle in the hand," he said.

O'Sullivan who grew up in Foynes played his underage hurling with St Kieran's. 

"My dad (Mickey O'Sullivan) would have always been involved with coaching over the years that where we picked it up from, he would have won a couple of county championships in hurling and football with St Kieran's. We would have grown up on the sidelines, after that I would have studied sports science in UL. Cian O'Neill was one of lecturers, you would look up to him, the coaching models we did with him were top class and they really gave me for a grá for coaching."

St Patrick's was one of the first teams O'Sullivan became involved with in coaching. Kilmallock defeated St Patrick's in the 2017 junior hurling final. 

"After that I started taking teams here and there, St Patrick's in Limerick was the first team I ever took in Limerick. We had a lovely junior team, we got to a junior county final a number of years ago now and it all kicked from there. There hasn't been too many years now since where I haven't had a team of one description or another."