Cashel mourns one of its most famous GAA stars
Cashel and Tipperary woke up last weekend to the sad news of the passing of one its most famous GAA sons, when the death of Peter O’Sullivan was announced.
Peter was a proud King Cormac, and won All-Ireland medals in the Blue and Gold of Tipperary in the 1960’s and 70’s. A brilliant and brave young hurler between the posts, Peter played underage with Cashel, before coming to prominence at minor level with the county team.
He won a Munster medal in 1961, but was unable to add the All-Ireland medal, when Tipperary went down to Kilkenny in the final. He continued as goalkeeper into the under 21 team, and won another Munster medal at that grade in 1964, when Tipperary hammered Waterford, in the first year that the grade was played. This time the Premier County faced Wexford in the All-Ireland decider, and there were no mistakes, when they routed the Yellowbellies by 8-9 to 3-1, seeing Peter pick up his first coveted national medal.
He eventually joined the senior team as a substitute goalkeeper, but was the first-choice net minder in the 1971 season. Again, he picked up a Munster medal, to complete the minor, under 21 and senior set, when they defeated Limerick in the Munster final, and he remained the first-choice keeper when they faced off against Kilkenny in the final.
This was to be the first All-Ireland final to be broadcast by RTE in full colour, and is fondly remembered for one Michael “Babs” Keating, finishing the game in his bare feet, after discarding his boots close to the end of the game. It was an exciting and high scoring game, with the two hurling aristocrats going toe to toe throughout. And although Peter let in five goals on the day, he still picked up his winner’s medal, as Tipperary ran out champions on a 5-17 to 5-14 scoreline, the highest total in an All-Ireland final then or since. It was also the only eighty-minute final, which probably had a hand in the high ending result.
But he also had a long and distinguished career with his club of Cashel. One of the bravest players ever to pick up a hurley, Peter would regularly put his body on the line to stop shots from the most fearsome of club players in both the West and County championships. In the times he played, no quarter was asked or given, and huge crowds would often travel to fields in Golden, Dundrum, Cashel or anywhere else in West Tipperary, to watch warriors of the game. Over three decades, Peter amassed five West senior championships medals with the King Cormac’s, and always regretted that he could never have led his beloved club to the county senior titles that he and they yearned for. He was on hand in 1991, when the club finally did reach the promised land, and there were few supporters prouder that day in Thurles.
Peter was also a hard working family man, and was part of one half of the well known road markings company in Cashel, M&S markings. They travelled the length and breath of the country working the roads, in what was a very dangerous profession. Maybe danger suited Peter, because he never shied away from it. Which would have seemed odd to those who met him away from the hurling pitch or hanging off a marking’s lorry. Because he was wonderful gregarious company, always willing to chat about hurling or anything else that took the fancy. He had a twinkle in his eye and a story to tell, and was also ready to enjoy a joke or some banter.
In his later years he suffered ill health, and passed away at the weekend, sadly missed by his heartbroken wife Joan, his son Seamus, and daughters Noelette, Siobhán, Laura and Catherine, along with a wide circle of family and friends. He was a family man to the core, and they will miss him more than anyone. No doubt, in the next days, weeks and months, many a story will be told and a memory recalled of Peter O’Sullivan and his time between the posts. He will be fondly remembered.
