Conor O'Sullivan (hurler)

O'Sullivan first came to prominence as a hurler with Glanmire Community College. Having played at every grade, he was a midfielder on the college's senior team that played in the Harty Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/gritty-glanmire-grab-late-win-20126.html|title=Gritty Glanmire grab late win|date=7 December 2006|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=5 July 2018|first=Driarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

During his studies at University College Cork, O'Sullivan established himself as a forward on the senior hurling team. On 7 March 2009, he lined out at left corner-back when UCC defeated the University of Limerick by 2-17 to 0-14 to win the Fitzgibbon Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/other/ucc-taste-fitzgibbon-cup-success-401824.html|title=UCC taste Fitzgibbon Cup success|publisher=Breaking News|date=7 March 2009|accessdate=19 August 2013|first=|last=}}

O'Sullivan joined the Sarsfields club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. On 27 October 2007, he partnered Daniel Kearney at midfield when Sarsfields defeated Midleton by 2-15 to 1-08 to win the Premier Minor Hurling Championship title.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/robert-odriscoll-2008-win-brought-unity-to-sarsfields-358212.html|title=Robert O'Driscoll: 2008 win brought unity to Sarsfields|date=8 October 2015|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=9 July 2018|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}

On 3 May 2008, O'Sullivan made his first appearance for the Sarsfields senior team when he lined out at left corner-back in a 2-09 to 2-08 defeat of Ballinhassig. He retained his position on the starting fifteen throughout the championship. On 28 September, he won his first Cork Senior Championship medal following a 2-14 to 2-13 defeat of Bride Rovers in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2008/0929/ireland/sars-young-guns-bridge-51-year-gap-73440.html|title=Sars young guns bridge 51-year gap|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=29 September 2008|accessdate=22 July 2014|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}

After losing the 2009 final to Newtownshandrum, Sarsfields were back in a third successive decider on 10 October 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2009/1012/ireland/newtown-know-how-snuffs-out-sars-103100.html|title=Newtown know-how snuffs out Sars|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=12 October 2009|accessdate=20 August 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} O'Sullivan scored 1-01 from frees in the 1-17 to 0-18 defeat of Glen Rovers.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/1011/ireland/sars-show-true-grit-to-battle-back-for-victory-133163.html|title=Sars show true grit to battle back for victory|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=11 October 2010|accessdate=20 August 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

On 7 October 2012, Sarsfields lined out in their fourth championship final in five seasons. O'Sullivan was at left corner-back and collected his third winners' medal following the 1-15 to 1-14 defeat of Bishopstown.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/1008/ireland/style-and-steel-seal-third-title-in-five-years-for-sars-210162.html|title=Style and steel seal third title in five years for Sars |publisher=Irish Examiner|date=8 October 2012|accessdate=20 August 2013|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}

Sarsfields again failed to retain the title in 2012 after suffering a two-point defeat by Midleton, however, O'Sullivan played in his sixth final in seven seasons on 12 October 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/lehane-steals-show-as-magpies-soar-again-248376.html|title=Lehane steals show as Magpies soar again|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=4 November 2013|accessdate=9 July 2018|first=|last=}} Lining out at left corner-back he collected a fourth winners' medal after a 2-18 to 0-08 defeat of Glen Rovers.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/just-the-perfect-day-for-merciless-sars-291064.html|title=Just the perfect day for merciless Sars|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=13 October 2014|accessdate=9 July 2018|first=Eoghan|last=Cormican}}

O'Sullivan was added to the Cork under-21 panel in advance of the 2009 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 3 June 2009 when he lined out at left corner-back in a 2-22 to 0-25 defeat by Tipperary.

O'Sullivan first played for the Cork senior team as a member of the so-called Cork "development panel" in late 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/mccarthys-men-the-15-who-will-line-out-for-cork-1548210.html|title=McCarthy's Men|publisher=Irish Independent|date=21 November 2008|accessdate=2 March 2009}} This new team came into being as a result of the 2008 hurling panel's refusal to play under manager Gerald McCarthy. O'Sullivan made his first appearance on 23 November 2008 when he lined out at right corner-back in a challenge game to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Colman's College.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/qlidcwcwkf/|title=Few highlights as young rebels get the better of stars|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=24 November 2008|accessdate=2 March 2009|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}} He later impressed in some subsequent challenge games and was included on the Cork panel for the 2009 National League campaign. O'Sullivan made his competitive debut on 8 February 2009 when he lined out at left corner-back in a 4-14 to 1-14 defeat by Dublin.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/dublin-beat-corks-hurlers-398174.html|title=Dublin beat Cork's hurlers|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=8 February 2009|accessdate=2 March 2009|first=|last=}} When the striking hurlers returned for the latter stages of the National League, O'Sullivan was one of four players retained from the "development panel" who were retained.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/rebels-back-to-future-as-14-recalled-for-clare-clash-1679686.html|title=Rebels back to future as 14 recalled for Clare clash|publisher=Irish Independent|date=20 March 2009|accessdate=22 March 2009}} He was later included in Cork's panel for the 2009 Munster Championship and made his first appearance on 31 May in a 1-19 to 0-19 defeat by Tipperary.

On 6 May 2012, O'Sullivan was named on the bench for Cork's National League final meeting with Kilkenny. He was introduced as a half-time substitute for Stephen McDonnell in the 3-21 to 0-16 defeat.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0507/ireland/catsapos-smash-and-grab-193008.html|title=Cats' smash and grab|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=1 August 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

O'Sullivan lined out in his first Munster final on 14 July 2013. He was named in his usual position of left corner-back for the 0-24 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2013/0715/ireland/day-of-joy-sends-tremor-through-treaty-236924.html|title=Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=15 July 2013|accessdate=31 July 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} On 8 September, O'Sullivan was again at left corner-back when Cork drew 3-16 to 0-25 with Clare in the All-Ireland final.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2013/0909/ireland/an-emotional-riveting-roller-coaster-242435.html|title=An emotional, riveting roller-coaster|date=9 September 2013|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=22 September 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}} He retained his position on the starting fifteen for the subsequent replay on 28 September, which saw Cork lose by 5–16 to 3–16.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2013/0930/ireland/a-day-borrowed-from-the-hurling-gods-244741.html|title=A day borrowed from the hurling gods|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=30 September 2013|accessdate=1 October 2013|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

On 3 July 2014, an ongoing hamstring injury meant O'Sullivan was named on the bench when Cork faced Limerick in a second successive Munster final. He remained on the bench for the entire game but collected a Munster Championship medal following the 2-24 to 0-24 victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/irrepressible-rebels-rule-munster-again-275363.html|title=Irrepressible Rebels rule Munster again|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=14 July 2014|accessdate=17 July 2014|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}

On 21 April 2015, it was announced that O'Sullivan had left the Cork senior panel. Team selector Johnny Crowley said: "“Obviously, we’d have liked if Conor had stayed...it was his choice, we asked him to think about it but he said he wanted to focus on his club hurling."{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/conor-osullivans-cork-exit-offers-opportunity-to-others-says-johnny-crowley-325351.html|title=Conor O'Sullivan's Cork exit offers opportunity to others, says Johnny Crowley|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=22 April 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/conor-o-sullivan-opts-out-of-cork-hurling-panel-1.2182909|title=Conor O'Sullivan opts out of Cork hurling panel|publisher=Irish Times|date=21 April 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015|first=Ian|last=O'Riordan}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/osullivan-quits-cork-panel-to-focus-on-club-career-31158033.html|title=O'Sullivan quits Cork panel to focus on club career|publisher=Irish Independent|date=21 April 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015|first=Cliona|last=Foley}} A change of management at the end of the season saw O'Sullivan return to the Cork senior team. On 29 October, he was named as part of Kieran Kingston's first provisional panel.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/cork-provisional-hurling-panel-2016-2414771-Oct2015/|title=Cork welcome back some big names as Kingston announces provisional hurling panel|publisher=The 42|date=29 October 2015|accessdate=8 June 2019|first=Steve|last=O'Rourke}}

On 9 July 2017, O'Sullivan failed to be included on the 26-man match-day panel for the Munster final. He remained a member of the extended panel and collected a second winners' medal following the 1-25 to 1-20 defeat of Clare.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/cork-victorious-over-clare-in-munster-hurling-final-797054.html|title=Cork victorious over Clare in Munster hurling final|date=9 July 2017|publisher=Irish Examiner|accessdate=5 July 2018|first=|last=}}

On 1 July 2018, O'Sullivan was named amongst the substitutes for Cork's second successive Munster final-meeting with Clare. He remained on the bench but ended the game with a third winners' medal following a 2-24 to 3-19 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/cork-quietly-collect-another-munster-title-as-clare-crumble-1.3550274|title=Cork quietly collect another Munster title as Clare crumble|date=1 July 2018|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=5 July 2018|first=Malachy|last=Clerkin}}

{{updated|match played 16 June 2019.}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://gaacork.ie/playerProfile/823/conor_o'sullivan Conor O'Sullivan profile] at the Cork GAA website

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Category:1989 births

Category:Living people

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