To say Pearse O’Neill's career has progressed at lightening speed
over the last 3 years, would be to make one of the understatements of
the century. On returning from Oz in the summer of 2006, the Lahard man
was quickly called up to the Cork senior football panel for the 1st time.
After that he went straight onto the starting 15 and claimed a Munster
medal. Fast forward to October 2008 and he has his second Munster medal,
has played in 3 All-Ireland semi-finals, one All-Ireland final, has been
nominated for an All-Star and on Saturday next the 18th of October he
heads back to Australia to represent his country as a member of the Irish
international rules squad. All these are massive achievements, made all
the more unreal considering he never even played underage football with
Imokilly let alone Cork.
It is probably fair to say, that Pearse was a bit of a slow burner. As
stated he never played underage hurling or football with Imokilly. He
was in his final year with Midleton C.B.S. before he made the Corn Ni
Mhuire squad. They lost the 1st round. Cork minors never appeared anywhere
near his horizon, but he did make the Cork U21 football panel (again in
his final year). He was an unused sub however as Cork incredibly lost
out to Limerick. His championship debut for the Aghada senior football
team came in 1999 aged 19, when he was selected at wing forward to face
St. Nicholas in Caherlag. The same day, his own team mate – Jim
“Sponge” Motherway broke Pearse’s arm! An outstanding
duel player, his hurling championship debut for Aghada’s Intermediate
hurling team came a year later when he was introduced as a sub against
Carrigtwohill in Cloyne. He came on as a sub in every game that year up
to the county final which Aghada lost to Douglas, so it was the following
year aged 21 before he nailed down a starting place on the hurling team.
Considering his achievements in both codes since, he was possible a year
or 2 (or 3) older than many “up and coming” Aghada players
making their debuts. Pearse 1st came to the notice of football people
outside of Aghada when he was a member of the successful underdogs squad
that were featured on the TG4 television show. His midfield partner on
the night they defeated Kerry in Tralee was one Kieran Donaghy. By 2005,
he was, along with his current Cork teammate Kieran O’Connor, the
major player on the Aghada senior football team. He was also by now well
established as one of Aghada’s best hurlers also. He was called
to a number of Cork football trials/training sessions but failed to make
the panel in ’05 and he decided to take a year out from GAA (and
work) to see a bit of the World. Himself and 2 clubmates – Paul
Kilbane and Gerard Melvin headed for Oz in November ’05. A family
bereavement however, brought Pearse home earlier than anticipated in the
summer of ’06. His arrival back in the parish helped to revitalise
both the Aghada teams. Ironically his 1st intercounty call up on his return
was not by the senior footballers but by the Cork Intermediate hurlers.
However he had to withdraw from this panel when the senior football call
came shortly afterwards and he really hasn’t looked back since.
Profile
Name: Pearse O’Neill
Age: 28
Height : 6 foot 5 inches
Weight : 16 stone
Occupation: Accountant/Farmer
Honours Won: 2 Munster Senior Football Champ, 1 McGrath Cup, 1 All Ireland
7’s, 2 East Cork U21 football Champ, 1 East Cork Minor Hurling Champ
What is your earliest sporting memory : Aghada winning JAFC v Knocknagree
in 1989.
Do you remember your 1st big match as a supporter : Cork v Derry 1993
All Ireland Final. I took the long route home that day.
Favourite Food : TK Special
Favourite drink: Tanora
Who are your sporting heroes : Larry Tompkins, John Fenton, Jake the Snake
Roberts.
Who was the biggest influence in your GAA career: Parents, Conor Counihan,
Billy Morgan, hurling and football coaches in Aghada.
From within Aghada, name (in your opinion) the following -
Best to train : Charlie McCarthy
Quickest player: Kieran O’Connor/Brendan Crowley
Most inspiring player you played with: Conor Counihan
Most Skillful hurler you played with : Richie Lewis
Most Skillful footballer you played with : Thomas ‘kick it in high’
O’Neill
Hardest trainer you’ve trained under: Tommy Foley.