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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Karl O'Kane

Cork legend Diarmuid O'Sullivan reckons it's about time professional rugby came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh

CORK hurling legend Diarmuid ‘the Rock’ O’Sullivan says big time rugby at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is long overdue.

O’Sullivan was speaking ahead of Munster’s encounter with a South Africa select XV at the home of Cork GAA in eight days' time.

The game is already a 45,000 sellout and will be the first time professional rugby is played at the Leeside venue.

“To be honest, it's about time,” said three-time All-Ireland winner O’Sullivan, who played in the AIL for eight years with Highfield and Midleton after he retired from inter-county hurling.

“I think us Cork people for far too long we've been looking at big, big games being played below in Thomond Park - Munster, the All-Blacks.

“It's been an incredible spectacle for the people of Munster, and obviously for the people of Limerick. An association has built up.

“They've built a relationship around that. I think it's great for Cork that we can now have something similar to ourselves - Munster v South Africa.

“It's going to be a wonderful, wonderful spectacle. It's long overdue.

“Hopefully this will be the first of many games of this magnitude to take place down the park and the fact that it's a Thursday night brings a uniqueness to itself as well.

“The fact that it sold out in the space of a day and a half, I think that shows the enthusiasm that was there for the people of Cork to go and support Munster.”

There was a huge furore back in 2007 when the GAA opened the gates of Croke Park to the Ireland rugby and soccer teams when Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped.

It was worth €36 million in total to the GAA in ground rental over four years.

Rental money from rugby is a welcome additional revenue stream for Cork GAA as they continue to pay off their €20 million long term debt on the redeveloped venue.

O’Sullivan continued: “I think at this stage the more our stadia can be seen world wide and recognised for the association that the GAA is, I think this will further enhance the reputation of the GAA stadia that we have within the country.”

Speaking about his time in the AIL, O’Sullivan said: “Very, very good times. I suppose I learned my trade in Highfield for two years - played on the wing and learned the game.

“I transferred to Midleton, which was closer to home and I spent the best part of six years playing full back there. It was quite comfortable.”

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