Student of the Game

For the first Billy Hearne Rising Star, I wanted someone who would embody the values Billy admired and encouraged in young players – hard work, talent, a positive attitude and willingness to learn. Shane O’Sullivan fits that description perfectly.

The midfielder, who turned 19 last month, is from Waterford city and is currently combining playing for the Blues Under 20s with studying on the WWETB FAI Player Development course under the guidance of co-ordinators Paddy Carey and Mark Barry. Shane’s footballing education came from De La Salle schoolboys club up to Under 12s and then Southend United until he signed for Waterford FC in the summer of 2023. 

Very effective as a ’10’ or as an inverted winger, O’Sullivan has had a successful start to the year with the academy as he tells me. “This year has been great so far with the Under 20s. We finished joint top of the group in the first phase which means we are in the elite phase for the second half of the season. We’ll be playing against all the other top teams and players across the country every week which is where you want to be, obviously.” 

 

Munster Senior Cup action with the first team against Bandon AFC at the RSC 

 

His own performances have been an important factor in their success, having started in seven of their eight games, scoring once and bringing his trademark creativity to craft chances for others. There’s always a strong emphasis on putting the team’s needs first and he says, “I’ve been pleased with my performances which I hope to carry on into the elite phase and hopefully this helps the team to continue to get results.”

Shane was involved in some preseason training with the first team and also in friendlies against Bray Wanderers and Wexford. He says that it was a great experience to play in the Munster Senior Cup and that he is learning from working with senior players. “I’ve been lucky enough to train with the first team most weeks since our season started. It has obviously been a huge benefit and a great experience for me and I’m very grateful for any opportunities I get. I haven’t made a matchday squad yet, but I’ll keep working hard as I can and hopefully it’ll come.”

“The coaching I’m getting at the moment is second to none,” he knows and it’s no surprise with the names he lists. “The experience that Eddie Nolan, Paddy, Breener, Daryl (Murphy) and all the lads have and can pass on to us, which I always listen to, is amazing.” It’s a great environment for any young player to develop and he admits he has learned a lot from first team captain Pádraig Amond too. “He has given me lots of advice and tips in training that I can bring into my own game, and also, by watching his leadership skills as a captain on the training pitch and at games.”

 

Scoring the winning goal for Southend in the Youth A cup final in 2023

 

Of course, the most important influences are the closest to home and Shane is proud that his “Mam and Dad are my biggest fans and are always pitch-side no matter where in the country the game is.” They have supported him in spending this year earning his qualification in Sports and Recreation Studies and Shane knows it was the right choice for him. “I couldn’t recommend the ETB course enough to anyone who might be thinking about doing it after school,” he tells me. “It’s a great mix between classroom work and football. The academic side of the course is not like your usual schoolwork - it’s mostly all sports-related, which helps as you’re studying topics you’re actually interested in. The football side of the course is excellent as you’re playing football with your classmates every day which is always enjoyable because it’s fun and competitive too. The coaching from both Paddy and Mark this year has improved me massively in all aspects of my game. They give you constant support in the classroom, on the pitch and in life too. There won’t be a single day you won’t enjoy.”

His enthusiasm is reflected in his appraisal by course leader Paddy Carey. The UEFA Elite A-licensed coach says that “Shane works really hard on and off the pitch. He’s a very intelligent footballer and, although he is slight, he is very athletic and this doesn’t just happen - he works at it every day.” Carey has overseen the progress of so many players (male and female) who are now enjoying football careers in Ireland and the UK and he sees the value O’Sullivan is gaining with close working relationships between the course leaders, Mike and Seán Geoghegan from the academy and with the first team staff. “The course is perfect for Shane as he gets thousands of extra touches a week, mostly unopposed, to work on his technique and towards his learning plan the club set him.” He also reinforces the adage that a player’s best ability is their availability. “Shane is always available too. He’s never injured or not fit. That kind of stuff keeps him in teams and managers in jobs!”

As a local lad, Shane’s earliest memory of the Blues is being a ball boy at the RSC with De La Salle when he was nine years old against Sligo Rovers. “I can also remember standing at a sold-out game against Cork when I was very young which I think they won!”

He’s always been a leader on the pitch and captained a very successful Southend United schoolboy team to the Ball Corporation Under 17A cup before leaving for the Blues. “I’ve been lucky enough to be on teams that have won a lot of leagues and cups at Schoolboy level. Between DLS and Southend, I don’t think there was a season where we didn’t win a league or cup or both. The highlight for me was probably being in the starting eleven for Southend in the Ardagh Cup final in Ozier as a 16-year-old after scoring a late equaliser in the semi-final that we won on penalties.”

 

Showing typical determination for Southend's Under 14s in 2019

 

His biggest Blues highlight so far was “scoring two goals in the semi-final of the Mark Farren Cup” against Shamrock Rovers in September 2023. “I hadn’t been at the club too long, but Seán Geoghegan had enough faith in me to put me on with fifteen to go at 2-1 down. I managed to score the equaliser to get us to extra time and then put us ahead, only for them to score with the last kick and send it to penalties. We lost the shootout unfortunately, but that day will live long in the memory for me.”

“The following season, Mike Geoghegan suggested I play Under 17 again to help my development and I feel that really stood to me. I really enjoyed the year and I ended up top of the table for assists [with an astounding ten] across all the leagues for that age for the season which I was delighted with.” It’s certainly paying off as his performances have caught the eye of many.
 
We finish with a bonus question when I ask for a player he recommends to watch as one for the future. “I’ll give you two from the Pre-Academy this year - Liam Dooley is already very mature for his age and Luke Casey, who is a very exciting young player. I’m looking forward to seeing how they and all the Southend lads progress through the academy.”

O’Sullivan is an intelligent player with a great work ethic and ambitions to keep improving himself. As Carey points out, “He’s come a very long way in a short space of time and has a lot more room to grow and will only get better.” And Shane, himself, shows he has listened to his coaches all his life and soaks up every bit of it. “I’ve learned from them all and I’m still learning.”

 

All photographs very kindly provided by Noel Browne