For Innishannon native Eoin O’Sullivan, 2025 has taken a turn in a different direction.
Valley Rovers’ number 1 in the Premier SFC over the last couple of years, the 22-year-old is now focusing on another sport.
He has been scouted by Tadhg Leader of Leader Kicking, with the hope of eventually making it to the NFL.
Tadhg is an ex-Connacht rugby player, whose objective is to help young Irish footballers earn US College scholarships as kickers.
“I first heard about Leader Kicking on the way home from Valley Rovers against Éire Óg in hurling championship two years ago,” O’Sullivan says.
“I heard Tadhg Leader on the radio talking about that he was going to be hosting Ireland's Kicking King Qualifiers. He was going to be moving around to most counties.
“I always had an interest in American Football ever since a young age. I always fancied myself as a decent kicker. I said I would give it a go. I went up to Limerick to compete. It was actually the same day I was in goal for Valley Rovers against Castlehaven, so I kept it quiet that I was going to Limerick that morning.
Eoin O'Sullivan, first on the left, on a training camp in Florida in January.
Eoin O'Sullivan, first on the left, on a training camp in Florida in January.
“I qualified for the final and then played the best game of my life against Castlehaven, but that’s besides the point. I went up to the final a few weeks later in Dublin and came second.
“I kept going to these sessions in Leader Kicking and then last October, Tadhg selected seven of us from Ireland to be part of the Leader Kicking placement programme. That’s basically training every week with the hope of getting into the NFL.”
It has been a busy period for O’Sullivan now that he has purely focused on Leading Kicking for the moment. Two recent trips to America have proven beneficial.
“It has been pretty much full-time of late,” the 6 ft 4 player said.
Darragh Leader, Mark Jackson, Tadhg Leader, Leader Kicking, Charlie Smyth and Rory Beggan. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Darragh Leader, Mark Jackson, Tadhg Leader, Leader Kicking, Charlie Smyth and Rory Beggan. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
“I have been in Dublin a good few times recently and we do our training then ourselves at home. The seven of us are from all over Ireland, so it’s hard to get together.
“We were in Florida back in January and then Texas two weeks ago. It’s all part of the training programme. The one in Florida was a week long camp, so Tadhg could get footage of us and then send it on to American Football scouts to get our names out there really.
“That went very well and there are a couple of College teams looking at us, but that can’t be disclosed right now. On a personal level, I feel I am in a pretty good spot. Hopefully once April comes around I will be in contention. That's when teams look for punters and kickers.
“Ultimately, the NFL is the dream but you have to take it one step at a time. College football is the short-term goal and get a scholarship for a year or two and then hopefully get on the American pathway programme.”
While he won’t be donning the Valley Rovers jersey this year, he will be keeping a close eye on proceedings. In the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC group stage, they will face Newcestown, back-to-back champions Castlehaven and Mallow.
St Finbarr's Enda Dennehy slots the ball past Valley Rovers' goalkeeper Eoin O'Sullivan during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC at Coachford last year. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
St Finbarr's Enda Dennehy slots the ball past Valley Rovers' goalkeeper Eoin O'Sullivan during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC at Coachford last year. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
“I have been playing for Valley Rovers since five years of age. I’ll definitely miss it this year especially when we have Newcestown in the first round of the championship. I have never played Newcestown in my life and they are our biggest rivals.
“It’s something I definitely plan on coming back to in the future once my new adventure finishes, which will hopefully be a long way down the line.” O’Sullivan concluded.