Bord Gáis Energy have launched their new #HurlingToTheCore campaign to mark the beginning of a summer of hurling in 2017. #HurlingToTheCore celebrates Bord Gáis Energy’s belief that hurling is more than a sport or pastime - it is deeply ingrained in Irish history and stitched into our national identity. Over the course of the summer, through their partnership with the GAA, Bord Gáis Energy will shine a light on people who are #HurlingToTheCore in communities around Ireland. Some are past players whose lives have taken them away from hurling and some are fans who never miss a game. First up is a video featuring Munster and Ireland rugby star Simon Zebo. For more insights into #HurlingToTheCore from Bord Gáis Energy over the summer, follow: Facebook: BordGaisEnergyGAA Twitter: @BGEGAA Instagram: bgegaa SnapChat: bordgaisenergy YouTube: bordgaisenergy
**By Cian O'Connell **
“No doubt, definitely there is only one team who will get me again,” Simon Zebo laughs when discussing the possibility of returning to the hurling fields of Cork when his rugby career finishes.
By the banks of the Lee talk will always centre on the Rockies, Glen, and the Barrs, who have accumulated 84 County Senior titles between them.
Growing up Zebo thoroughly enjoyed hurling for Blackrock, who remain top of the roll of honour. “Yeah, it was great, I played up until I was 16, unfortunately we lost the Quarter-Final of our Championship to Na Piarsaigh, that was the end of my hurling days,” Zebo an ambassador for Bord Gais Energy’s #HurlingToTheCore campaign recalls.
“I started when I was about five or six years of age, I played a lot in school, I played in the Primary Game and then Feile two or three years in a row for Blackrock. I had some great years and have some great memories, it was a great period of my life. I still have a load of friends from when I played hurling.”
Current Republic of Ireland soccer international David Meyler was a Blackrock colleague, while his father John, now in charge of the Cork Under 21 team, was heavily involved with the club.
“Yeah, I played a bit with David,” Zebo says. “John would have been over teams when we were younger, he would have been over a couple of our teams. He was a great coach, I know him a long time. Pretty much, David and I started at the same time.
“Unfortunately we choose different career paths, it would have been nice if we had got to play for or represent Cork at the same age grade.”
Wayne Sherlock was an excellent corner back for Cork.
Significant sporting influences were dotted around the club as Zebo was developing. Zebo talks fondly about some of his Rockies heroes. “Massively so, in Blackrock we had Wayne Sherlock, Fergal Ryan, the Browne brothers, Paul Tierney loads of guys on the team.
“Either superstars or guys close enough, that was a great generation for Blackrock hurling and Cork hurling. Definitely that would have played a factor in me wanting to play for Cork at senior level. I had great heroes in the club, Cork were definitely thriving then, hopefully they will get back there.”
Zebo retains a keen interest in Cork GAA, especially when they are in Championship action. “Yeah, massively, they just aren't doing too good at the moment.
“If the Cork footballers aren't doing too well I'd be following Kerry to see how they are going. I'm glad they beat the Dubs in the League recently which was great. In hurling if Cork aren't doing too well, it would probably be Tipp or some of the other Munster sides.”
Former colleagues Denis Leamy and Ian Dowling have experience being involved with inter-county set-ups and Zebo monitors the action with interest.
“My brother in law used to do speed and strength and conditioning with the Tipp hurles a couple of years back. Yeah, everybody in the Munster squad especially is either an avid supporter of a county or has ties to one.
Former Blackrock and Cork hurler Alan Browne.
“If Tipp are doing well Donnacha Ryan will be the first person to tell me about it or Denis Leamy or these guys. If the Cats are doing well Ian Dowling will be on about it. Everybody keeps an eye on it, especially around Championship time. There definitely would be TVs on with all the games.”
Reflecting on his decade of involvement with the Rockies, Zebo is adamant his rugby skill set was improved immensely.
“Yeah, I'm convinced of that,” Zebo admits. “Hand-eye co-ordination. The speed of the game, handling in games. With so many players and different movements your vision is amplified. It is like you have an extra second on the ball when you are playing rugby then.
“It is such a quick game, to play it you have to be super quick, super fit, and super skilled. So there were definitely skills you could transfer on to a rugby pitch when you have a few heavies running around.”
Centrefield or centre forward were the positions where Zebo performed for Blackrock as a youngster. “I enjoyed the runs in towards goal,” Zebo remarks.
“If only you could play both - hurling and rugby would have been on a par growing up. I choose rugby, I'm happy about that, but I still have a big love, a big gr á for hurling. Maybe when I retire from rugby I will pick it back up again.”
