David Turns Rugby Goliath
By Christy Parker
Youghal rugby player David O’Callaghan in action
Eddie may be gone, but Youghal continues to make its mark on international rugby -albeit with a little help from Midleton- through local lad David O’Callaghan. The youngest child of Mary and Declan, brother to Sorcha, Nicola and Garret, David recently captained the Irish Under-18’s (Schools) for the first time, during a Six-Nation festival in Cork.
David had previously led the Munster Schools side against Gloucester and also in an inter-provincial tournament, last October, losing only lost to Leinster. Then came his international debut against France over Christmas, casting the 6′ 4″, 15 stone, No 8 as the first Midleton College student to represent his country at U-18 level. The game, at Cork Con’s Temple Hill ground, ended in a 15-11 defeat but merely sharpened his ambition.
David retained his place for last month’s Six-Nation rugby festival in Cork. “We didn’t really have much time to prepare for the event,” he recalls, “and got beaten by Scotland and Wales.” Then the Youghal man was promoted to captain for the final game, at the Mardyke, against Italy. “We won 17-15,” smiles the man who, as captain, subsequently recounted the team’s performances on RTE television’s Against the Head show.
The international experiences have proved both inspirational and awakening. “Things happen so much faster on the field. I was very much aware of having moved up a level from inter-provincial,” he says. His elevation has impacted on his school too. “I guess it’s talked about a bit because it is relatively unusual for a player from smaller college, in rugby terms, to get international recognition,” he muses, adding, “Lesser known colleges have to try that bit harder to get international call-ups so it can only be good for rugby in the town and the region generally when it happens.”
David’s rugby career began, aged, 7, with Youghal and proceeded to Midleton when he began boarding school there at 13. He retains fond feelings for his native club and quickly acknowledges “the encouragement and training I was always given in Youghal.”
The Youghal man considers the honour of captaining his country as his best rugby experience to date. (Losing heavily to Wales was his worse). Other noteworthy achievements have been winning the Mungret Cup -’B’ competition for Munster colleges- three times in succession, during his four-year participation.
Next up is Colleges rugby and the man who admires Munster’s Davy Wallace and Paul O’Connell looks forward to fresh challenges. While his academic aspirations tend towards Commerce, he intends to pursue his rugby to whatever heights it leads him. A keen kayaker and canoeist in his spare time, un-chartered waters won’t faze him.
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