Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan says it's a challenge for squad to avoid 'drive for five' talk
Wednesday 27 February 2019 15:15, UK
Cian O'Sullivan says Dublin players are ignoring hype surrounding their bid for a historic fifth All-Ireland title in a row.
As they embark upon a quest to achieve a feat never completed at senior intercounty level, the Sky Blues are facing increased scrutiny at every turn.
Kilmacud Crokes club man O'Sullivan says that the players must block out any of the hype.
"Completely. That's the challenge for us," he explained. "In work or meeting friends and family and they're talking to you about these things, it's just something that you have to try to deal with and maybe change the topic or just avoid those situations.
"But it definitely can seep into your subconscious without you knowing it. So guys have to be aware of that and deal with it as best as they possibly can.
"We try to get into a position where we're 100 per cent focused on the next task, and, for us, that's focusing on training tonight which is going to look at the Mayo game and then look ahead to the Roscommon game.
"We just get out onto the pitch and train. If we start thinking about potentially playing Kerry later on in the summer, then it's a distraction."
Similarly, the ongoing debate surrounding Dublin's use of Croke Park is another interference for the side, from which O'Sullivan is eager to distance himself:
"It's the exact same as any other potential distractions. Other players might be different, but, for me personally, I'm very conscious not to busy myself with the politics of the game. It's not something that as a player I have any interest in, to be honest.
"When I finish playing I probably will, but football takes up enough of my thinking time and day to day time that I try to give them 110 per cent while I'm in that mode.
"It's not something that I'm concerned with and not something that I reflect on really, to be honest."
The 30-year-old made his first appearance of the season last Saturday in the win over Mayo.
"It was great to be back," he commented. "It was a great performance all round, very happy with that. There are a few little areas that we can shore up on, and execution around that final part of the play and the score. But as a whole I think management and players are very happy with that team performance."
O'Sullivan's delayed start to the season was caused by a hamstring injury, having struggled with it last summer.
"Since my early 20s, it's something that I've struggled with," he said. "But through experience, I figured out what routines work and don't work for me. So it's just being consistent in the rehab you do and the little bit extra you do on the non-training days.
"It's just something I've constantly got to keep on top of.
"Towards the end of last season with Dublin, I was having issues with my hamstrings and we were straight back into the club campaign. We did well with the club last year, I was playing up to early December. So I just never got to take that block of four or five weeks to do that proper rehab and put the issue to bed. It was just the first couple of weeks there, I was keeping one eye on that and one eye on my training load.
"I got a full game in there on Saturday, body feels good so just something that I always need to keep on top of."
