Preparing to play through the pain

Ultan O'Callaghan is a cauldron of enthusiasm. His determination to captain Cork Constitution on Saturday after only half the recommended recovery time for a broken knuckle is unharnessed and driven. He will play.

He recalls his last competitive match against Blackrock College when he fell on the ground and two or three players came showering down on him. His finger, precariously positioned on the ground, simply cracked. Since then O'Callaghan has watched his team make steady progress over the last four weeks as he has looked on from his position of IRFU elite development officer in Cork. But now is the time.

The cast came off last week and since then his physiotherapist wife, Carol, has given his finger the closest attention any number eight could hope for. Two or three times a day she encourages the healing process. But the medical views are one thing. In his mind, the Cork Con captain is already pulling on his boots. For it's win or bust time.

"To be honest it wasn't right last week and it isn't for this, but I'm prepared to chance it. If I'd played last week I'd have ruled myself out for this week. That's not being cocky or anything, but that's the way I'd hoped it would go. I'm only half way through the recovery period. It's a damn nuisance actually. But I'll tell ya, lots of candles are being lit in the O'Callaghan household. "We're trying all sorts of things, including the hand-guard DJ Carey uses. I'm very upbeat about Saturday. I've missed four matches and the team have being doing very well without me so I've got to be honest with them as well. I've trained hard, but the match fitness is only something you get back by actually playing."

O'Callaghan has professionally observed how his younger brother, Donnacha, has seamlessly moved from the second row to the back row. No easy move, but Donnacha has done it with panache. been asking questions and sussing him out with the 2003 World Cup in mind.

"We're all proud of him," Ultan says of his sibling, a former under16 basketball international and a Bishopstown Gaelic footballer. "It's a big ask from a fella to move from second row to blind-side. The running, the different angles, everything changes. It says a lot for him to be able to do that." Inevitably, the mind games have begun. Dungannon coach Willy Anderson's assertion that Cork Constitution are favourites on Saturday is methodically deconstructed by O'Callaghan. Having, as a development officer, also worked with Anderson at a personal level, O'Callaghan rates the former Irish player as one of the best coaches in the game.

"Remember, Dungannon were one of the first teams to beat us this year, so we haven't beaten them in three or four years and that's down to the players and coach. They've the best back line in the AIL. Ryan Constable is one of the best centres in the game. There is a threat in every player."

Little doubt O'Callaghan, with his brother and the rest of the Con pack, will concentrate their minds on depriving that back line of reasonable ball. Who wants Constable, David Humphreys, Jonathan Bell or Tyrone Howe running at them with a bit of space?

"On the day," he says, "it will come down to whoever wants it most. It has been the best season I have seen Ronan (O'Gara) play for Con, but he won't be there. And we knew that. We've been without our representative players all season. Conor Mahony has answered the call. I'd be very, very confident in Conor's ability. And don't forget Brian O'Meara's there as well."

O'Callaghan missed out on his side's win in the AIL final two years ago against Garryowen. As Con winger and centre John Kelly put it: "Ultan has a big heart. Missing the final nearly broke his heart."

From the number eight's perspective, a broken knuckle is far more preferable. A couple of DJ's hand-guards please.