While a certain cohort of Dublin men's All-Ireland football winners were in Croke Park yesterday to support the ladies in their final, some found themselves thrown right back into club action this weekend as the county championship resumed... in hurling!
The All-Ireland club champions Cuala were facing Crumlin in Parnell Park on Saturday. Running out comfortable victors, one member of the Dublin footballers who featured prominently was the All-Ireland final goal-scorer Con O'Callaghan.
Coming on for the second half wearing #23, O'Callaghan quickly contributed a goal before forcing a mistake from the Crumlin 'keeper which resulted in Cuala's 3rd.
Speaking to Balls.ie before Saturday's fixture, O'Callaghan discussed how he would handle the transition back to hurling:
I'll find out on Saturday. I can't say I've been practicing too much in hurling.
I'll get back into it. It's good to see the lads again. It'll be good to get back in at the weekend.
Although Cuala ultimately dispatched Crumlin with plenty to spare, the expected Young Footballer of the Year for 2017 is not getting ahead of himself yet:
We're not looking too far ahead. Even looking at county titles at this stage is looking very far into the future. It's a huge challenge coming up for us.
The defence of their county title will now see Cuala face St. Brigid's in the quarter-final.
One player who did not endure as successful a return to club hurling was Diarmuid Connolly.
With St. Vincent's and Kilmacud Crokes both already through to the quarter-final, yesterday's tie would determine where both sides finished in the group.
Wearing the #8 for Vincent's, Connolly's long layoff from the inter-county scene due to suspension enabled him to play from the start. In what was a closely fought competition throughout, Crokes would ultimately win with a 4 point margin.
However, Vincent's plight was not helped by the dismissal of Connolly half way through the second-half. Sent off after a second bookable offence, Vincent's had been 1 point ahead when Connolly departed after 41 minutes.
You can see O'Callaghan's goal and assist below (start from 2:45).
Highlights of St. Vincent's clash with Kilmacud Crokes are available here.
See Also: Watch: Jack McCaffrey Celebrates As Sister Sarah Scores Goal In All-Ireland Final
