It was with sadness, this week, that we heard of the passing of Oliver Cussen – one of our former comrades on the hurling field.
Oliver was the youngest of the Cussen family from Ballygubba, Kilmallock.
Oliver’s mother died while he was still a baby and he went to live with relatives in Mitchelstown. He played hurling with Ballygiblin (a sister club of Mitchelstown) and played gaelic football with Mitchelstown. As a teenager he also played hurling with UCC. After finishing college Oliver went to work in Dublin where he settled down with his young family.
In 1981, Jim Cussen (Oliver’s father) R.I.P. contacted Tom Moloney (Club Chairman) R.I.P. to say that Oliver would love to play hurling with his native parish Kilmallock. Tom Moloney welcomed him with open arms and Oliver Cussen pulled on the Balbec green and white in 1981, 1982 and 1983. It’s safe to say that nobody knew him the first night he arrived for training but he soon became part of the team. His hurling ability was evident from day one. Kilmallock reached the county final in 1981 and Oliver played a major role in our progress that year. We lost the final by just two points after a replay against South Liberties.
Oliver Cussen was a lively forward and a true team player. He loved playing for Kilmallock and often said he was proud and lucky to get the chance to wear the jersey. He travelled from Dublin regularly for training and didn’t miss one match in the three years. He was a quiet man but on the field his hurling did the talking. Defenders had their work cut out keeping tabs on him.
Kilmallock GAA Club would like to send sincere condolences to Oliver’s wife Marian, to his sons Seamus, Michael and John, to his grandson Ollie; to his sister Margaret, to his brothers Michael, Tom and James, to his extended family and to his many, many friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
