Stronger Together with Cathal Sheridan - Munster Rugby Senior Sport Psychologist

Pressure. It can break a team. Or it can make them stronger. Former professional rugby player and current head of sport psychology with Munster Rugby Cathal Sheridan knows what it takes for teams to perform at their highest levels when the stakes are the highest. 

In this conversation with ReliaQuest mental performance coaches Derin McMains and Dr. Nicole Detling, Cathal discusses:

• The power of sticking together in tough times
• Communicating true belief based on evidence
• Cultivating gratitude and how it impacts performance

Cathal Sheridan is a father, a husband, a former professional rugby player, and is now the head of sport psychology with Munster Rugby. 

Cathal signed his first contract as an Academy rugby player with Munster Rugby in 2009, and then moved on to the senior squad, he represented Munster - one of most prestigious clubs in World Rugby - on 35 occasions before being forced to retire through injury in 2016.

Throughout his professional playing career he continued his third level study in psychology, after completing his Masters degree in Sport & Performance Psychology  from the University of Limerick, he began working in the mental performance field.

He first began working as a Mental Skills Coach with the Munster Rugby Academy system in 2017, utilising his education & his experiences as a former pro athlete. 

Since then he has worked in a number of different arenas, from team sports, individual sports, business to the military. He worked as a performance psychology trainer in West Point military Academy.

He is accredited in Sport Psychology from the Sport Ireland Institute, and over the past two years has been working as the the lead Sport Psych for Rowing Ireland, and after two successful World Championships, will continue working with the team as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games. 

Most notable, since taking over the head sport psych position with Munster Rugby two years ago, Sheridan was part of the coaching group that helped Munster Rugby to win the United Rugby Championship trophy in May of 2023, ending an 12 year drought without silverware for the club. 

Gaelic Games are very close to his heart, and he continues to work with some of the country’s top counties, clubs, and players. He lives in Limerick with his wife Sarah, and his daughter Olivia.

ReliaQuest is a global cybersecurity company focused on high performance. ReliaQuest makes security possible through its technology and its company mindset -- getting a little better every day. Learn more about ReliaQuest at: https://www.reliaquest.com

Cathal Sheridan LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-sheridan-sports/

Derin McMains LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derin-mcmains-m-s-m-a-cmpc-09158662/

Dr. Nicole Detling LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-detling-phd-cmpc-32b1809/