*Ciaran Morrissey will form a key part of the Kilmurry Ibrickane defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
County champions Kilmurry Ibrickane are well aware of the target on their backs as they begin a new season.
Management: Aiden Moloney (manager), Eric Murrihy (selector), Kevin Sexton (selector), Derek Considine (selector), Diarmuid Whelan (selector), David Russell (coach), Mick Bohan (coach), James Murrihy (coach)
Captain: TBC
Key Player: Keelan Sexton
One to Watch: Andrew Shannon
Fresh Blood: Joe Campbell, Niall McGannon
Players Gone: Keith King, Ian McInerney and Michael Hogan (all retired)
Titles Won: 16 (three titles won by Quilty)
Most Recent Title: 2020
For the second year in a row, Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Josephs Miltown will meet in the first round while they also met in the 2019 senior decider which had to be settled after a replay. As both clubs will attest to, meetings have not always been as plentiful.
It was a sentiment echoed by Kilmurry Ibrickane manager, Aiden Moloney. “Martin Flynn said recently that up to last year we hadn’t met in almost thirty years in the championship but now for some reason we seem to be joined at the hip lately and can’t avoid each other. Miltown, ourselves and definitely a number of other teams are up there. We’re looking forward to playing Miltown and I think the team that comes out with a victory is going to be on the front foot going forward in the group”.
Long-term injuries rule Dermot Coughlan, Shane Hickey and Noel Downes out of their bid to retain the county title. It is not all doom and gloom however as esteemed coach Mick Bohan is part of their set-up along with ex Clare footballer David Russell with James Murrihy returning in a coaching capacity.
According to the Munster SFC winner, their pairing in the five team group is among the most difficult he can recall. “It is unusual, we have to look at four games in quick succession and that is going to create its own issues with injuries mounting as such, it will test your panel out and I think the teams with the strongest panel will do the best in that group”.
“First and foremost we’re drawn in a group of five and it is a tough group with a lot of quality teams in it and no tougher than Miltown in our first game, Cratloe, Ennistymon and Cooraclare, they are all quality teams. Everyone that gets out of that group will be happy to drag their heels out of it,” Moloney added.
With two wins and two losses from their Cusack Cup, Moloney believed that their League was a bit disappointing. “We’re always looking for a few players and at this stage the Cusack Cup is the number one for recruitment, we didn’t have a Cusack Cup last year so at least we got some game-time in and we had a look at some new players, hopefully that will be the benefit of the Cusack Cup this year”.
Whoever can prevail in Saturday’s clash will be rightly confident, the 2002 Clare SFC winning captain maintained. “We’ll have a cut off Miltown and see where we stand. We’ve some new players coming on the scene and it will be interesting to see how we do, whatever team gets two points on the board is definitely moving forward anyway and can approach the group with a bit of confidence after that”.
