Last year we felt we let ourselves down: Con O’Callaghan

Cuala dual ace Con O'Callaghan is hoping the bitter experience of last year's AIB Leinster Club SHC final loss can help drive them on in this Sunday's provincial decider against Kilkenny's O'Loughlin Gaels in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise (2.0).

Last year Cuala were defeated by a very experienced Oulart-The Ballagh of Wexford so Sunday's duel can't come quickly enough for Mattie Kenny's Dalkey outfit.

"Last year we felt we let ourselves down in the Leinster final so this year we’re hoping for, at the very least, an improved performance, whatever about the outcome,” says Con.

“I suppose we waltzed into the final last year, although we’d a tough game against Clara, but we kind of just nearly expected…I don’t know what went wrong but we expected it to happened when it came down to it. It just slipped away and it’s so easy for that to happen in finals.

“We went down by six or seven points and we were just a bit stunned. I don’t know if we weren’t expecting it but Oulart had lost a couple of finals and had a lot of experience.

“They probably knew what it took to win a Leinster, and knew better than we did because they came out fighting. It was probably nearly a little too late, we tried to claw it back but it took a lot of effort and it slipped away.

“Hopefully this year we’re going to take our chances when they’re given and work hard.”

Dublin senior footballer Con, younger brother of Dublin and Cuala defender Cian, and son of Maurice who lined out for both Dublin and Westmeath at senior intercounty level is enjoying a rich vein of form in the Leinster SHC having tallied 5-6 so far in their campaign victories over Borris-Kilcotton (Laois) and St Mullin's (Carlow).

“Playing with the (Dublin) footballers, it’s a really high-pressure environment, really high intensity as it should be. Going back to the club, it’s something different.

“There’s obviously huge intensity at this level but it’s refreshing to just put the football aside for a few weeks or months, and get back to…I’ve always loved playing hurling so it’s great to do what I’ve always loved doing.

“It takes pressure off and I can just enjoy myself hurling. I’m feeling good, I feel the games are helping, especially ones at high intensity.

“I played a bit against Lucan and Crokes and I’ve played the two recent matches, so I’m growing a bit. My touch is sharper than it was and I’m feeling good and fresh.”