O'Callaghan is considering calling it a day

By PAUL DOLLERY

GEORGE O’CALLAGHAN says he’s considering retiring from football.

The 31-year-old is still without a club after his contract with Cork City ended in November. O’Callaghan has been on trial with League One side Brentford recently and has also had interest from a number of clubs in Scandinavia.

However, the former Ipswich Town and Tranmere Rovers midfielder admits he’s at a crossroads in his career and is giving serious consideration to retirement.

“I’ve been all over the place with different clubs over the last few years so I think it’s important that I settle down now and spend some time with my family and my two kids,” said O’Callaghan.

“I’ve been training away with Brentford and I had a call from Roddy Collins at Monaghan United as well, but I don’t think I’m going to do anything. I’m probably going to just take some time out now.

“I’m not really sure if I’ll continue to play, to be honest. I’m not really bothered either so we’ll see what happens. If your heart is not in it there’s no point in going on.”

He added: “Ideally I’d like to have stayed with Cork City this season to try and get them into the Premier Division. That would have been enough for me then.”

O’Callaghan returned to Cork City for a third spell with the club in 2010, spending the latter half of last season with the Rebel Army.

“I was never called back for pre-season with City in January, which was very disappointing after all my years with the club. I didn’t even get a phone-call or a text. But I don’t want to get into that or hold any grudges because I don’t want to start arguments with anyone.

“There’s no drama with me anymore. Those days are over now.”

This article appeared in the Evening Echo on Friday, March 18th, 2011.

Corbisiero impressed by quality of Ross

By PAUL DOLLERY

THE BATTLE for front-row supremacy is likely to be a key element of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations meeting of Ireland and England at the Aviva Stadium.

Cork’s Mike Ross will have a major role to play in that battle. Declan Kidney placed his trust in Ross at the start of the campaign and, for the most part, the Ballyhooly man has delivered.

Ross is now Ireland’s first choice tight-head, but he may face his toughest examination yet on Saturday against an English scrum that has performed well recently. England have contested 59 scrums in the Six Nations so far and have been penalised just five times.

Directly opposite Mike Ross at scrum time this weekend will be a young loose-head England are expecting big things from. 22-year-old Alex Corbisiero started, and impressed, for Martin Johnson’s side in the wins over Italy and Scotland. The London Irish prop will retain his place in the England front-row for Saturday’s game in Dublin.

Ross, who turns 32 this year, and Corbisiero are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of age, but both players are coming to the conclusion of their debut Six Nations campaign. The pair have also previously crossed paths at club level, twice during the 2008-09 season, when Ross was still with Harlequins. On both occasions, the elder statesman was on the winning side.

“I was quite young then, only 20 years old I think,” recalls Corbisiero. “But Mike was a good player then and he’s definitely improved since his time at Harlequins. His form at Leinster has been excellent and he’s scrummaged really well in the Six Nations so far.

“The fact that he’s established himself in his national team at a relatively late stage in his career is an indication of how much he’s improved over the last couple of seasons. He’s gone back to Leinster, pushed really hard and has shown great form in the Magners League and the Heineken Cup.

“He’s been given the opportunity he deserved and he’s certainly taken it. I’ve been very impressed by him, I respect him hugely and going up against him is going to be a massive challenge.”

There are high hopes for Alex Corbisiero in the England camp. Scrum coach Graham Rowntree has been working closely with the US-born youngster recently.

“I’m delighted with how Alex has done. He made eighteen tackles against Scotland last weekend and assisted in several others. He came into the squad at the last minute and has taken his chance very well. He’s very accurate and he’s also a very coachable kid, which makes my job a lot easier.

“Alex has taken it all in his stride, he’s so composed. The signs are that he’s going to be a very good prop, but he’s still in the early stages of his development and the game this Saturday will be another big step along that road. We’ll see how good he is this weekend. The proof is in the pudding when you step out on to the field in international rugby.”

Rowntree added: “Mike Ross has really excelled for Ireland. He’s become a lot fitter since his time at Harlequins. He’s a big unit but he’s got a real engine on him. I’ve been mightily impressed, I have to admit.

“He’s also improved technically since he moved to Leinster and that’s no disrespect to the player he was at Harlequins. He might be inexperienced at international level but he’s already become a real cornerstone of that Ireland team.

“I think they’ve got a really good, balanced unit in that front-row with Ross, Rory Best and Cian Healy. Going in against Ross will be a serious test for Alex Corbisiero but the early signs are that he’s up to the challenge. Set-piece encounters like that one will be crucial to the outcome of the game.”

Corbisiero qualifies to play for Ireland through an Irish grandparent, but this Saturday he’ll be aiming to help England to a first victory on Irish soil and a first Grand Slam since 2003.

“We’re effectively going into the unknown because it’s a new stadium in Dublin and our last three games have been at home as well,” said Corbisiero.

“But, at the same time, it’s also just another game that we need to be switched on for and ready to perform in, regardless of where it’s played. I’m sure it will be an intense experience. The Ireland players and fans will be revved up to beat us and the challenge for us is to rise to that.

“It’s definitely in the back of the mind this week that a Grand Slam is a possibility but it’s not just going to happen for us, we have to make it happen. There’s a lot of work still to be done this week on top of all the work that’s been put in over the last few weeks.

“All we’re concerned about now is taking the field in Dublin on Saturday and doing our utmost to put in a performance that would be worthy of Grand Slam winners. You have to earn it.

“It’s a really tall order because we’re away from home against a great side. Ireland will probably be wounded from the manner of their defeat to Wales last weekend so I’m sure they’ll be looking for some redemption against us.”

This article appeared in the Evening Echo on Thursday, March 17th, 2011.