*Kildysart’s Kieran O’Brien. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
HAVING been constantly told that they were a senior team in everything but actuality during their arduous intermediate hoodoo of four heartbreaking final defeats in six years, it must have seemed as if a weight was lifted off Kildysart’s shoulders last year when soaring in their top flight return to come within a whisker of reaching a senior semi-final at the first attempt.
However, they only have to look at Saturday’s opponents Corofin as a warning sign that they need to work even harder in order to at least emulate that feat if not surpass it.
After all, the North Clare side hit the ground sprinting upon their reintroduction to senior level in 2022 to contest only their second ever championship semi-final, only to somehow find themselves embroiled in the relegation dogfight twelve months later.
Kildysart manager David Butler is confident that the character and insatiable work ethic of his troops can avoid any second season syndrome. “The one thing about them is that they’ve massive character. They really back themselves and are a great bunch of lads. Now I know every lad over a team says that but honest to God, It’s our fourth year with them and football is their life.
“Last year we were very disappointed in the Ennistymon game in the opening round but the character they showed after that was phenomenal as we actually finished top of the group. In the quarter-final against Miltown, there was nothing in it until Cormac Murray got the goal. We were right there in the mix so being our first year back at senior, it was an encouraging start. I mean there’s real ambition there amongst the squad because they were very disappointed after that Miltown game so we are all eager to try and get out of the group again.
“It won’t be easy though as we’ve Corofin on the first night, then St Breckan’s and then Doora/Barefield but we’re going along nicely and as I say they really have character and they back themselves which is hugely important. We’ve played Corofin and St Breckan’s in intermediate finals and look how they’ve done at senior since. You look at Corofin and I know that they were in the relegation last year but they were in the senior semi-final the year before so that’s the Corofin that we’re preparing for.
“St Breckan’s were last year’s county finalists and Barefield were very unlucky not to beat Éire Óg in the quarter-final last year so it’s going to be difficult but our only focus since the draw has been Corofin. I know that’s what every manager probably says at this time of year but genuinely it’s just all systems go for Corofin.”
Another major positive for Kildysart this year has not only been the greater exposure of players such as Emmet McMahon, Diarmuid O’Donnell and Fergal Ginnane at senior inter-county level but also the fact that a new crop of young talent are emerging to compete for places. “It was brilliant that Diarmuid was called up to join Emmet and Fergal for the county but while it meant that we were without them for the Cusack Cup although we did have Diarmuid for the last few rounds, the big thing this year is that we got to run a panel.
“There were different games in the Cusack and O’Gorman Cups that we did have injuries as well so an awful lot of young players have stepped up this year which is fantastic. We stayed up in the top division and really battled hard in almost every game. Now we were disappointed in the Lissycasey game, the first half in particular, Miltown too on the first night was poor but apart from that, we got stuck in.
“We got a good battling draw above in Lisdoonvarna and beat Ennistymon in the final games so we were very happy with how things went on the basis that we got to see more of a panel this year more than recent years which we hope can stand to us come this weekend. I mean on any given day in Clare, any team can beat each other, that’s just how competitive it is really but we’re just really looking forward to Corofin on Saturday. There’s a great buzz there at the minute and the players are ready to go.”
Management: David Butler (Manager); John O’Sullivan (Coach); Jacko Cleary, John Murtagh, Terry Murphy, Darragh Butler (Selectors); Kieran Connelly (Physio)
Captain: Keith O’Connor
Key Player: Emmet McMahon
One to Watch: Conall Casey
Fresh Blood: Conall Casey, Jesse Collins, Reuben Garry, Alan Hassett, Cillian Kelly, Joe Kelly, Harrison Scanlan, Jamie Sheehan
Departures Gate: None
Treatment Table: None
Titles Won: 1
Last season’s run: Made the quarter-finals in first season back senior
Schedule
Round 1 – v Corofin at Clarecastle, Saturday 7pm
Round 2 – v St Breckan’s (Weekend of August 16/17/18th)
Round 3 – v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield (Weekend of August 31st/September 1st)
