Kilshannig in no mood to halt momentum on return to senior ranks
The Glantane club defeated Aghabullogue in October '22 to secure a spot in the Premier Intermediate football ranks and would come ever so close to securing that elusive double weeks later.
Although their Junior A hurlers fell just short of county honours – losing out to Erin's Own after a replay and extra-time - momentum played a key role in all they achieved three years ago.
That week-on-week grind of big ball and small ball drove both sides to county glory in one code, and the cusp of the same in the other.
Momentum is a funny thing in sport, and it's something the club, and especially the footballers, are very familiar with.
2022: Kilshannig captain Killian O'Hanlon raises the John 'Lock' O'Sullivan cup after defeating Aghabullogue. Pic: Eddie O'Hare
It's now 2025. Kilshannig have risen to the Senior A football ranks in Cork. It's air they haven't breathed in over 30 years.
They've done so by securing their second county title in three seasons, and their third in six. A meteoric rise. Wind in their blue and gold sails. That's what you call momentum.
2024's football success came with no shortage of drama, after being forced to battle with old dance partners Aghabullogue over two days to earn their spot back in senior football.
For Colm O'Shea, who was man of the match and hoisted the cup at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh alongside Éanna O'Hanlon last November, that momentum is something they will feed off when they meet Newmarket in their SAFC opener on Saturday night.
Colm O'Shea, Kilshannig, at the McCarthy Insurance Group 2025 Cork Club Football Championship launch, at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: Jim Coughlan.
"Going back the years, in 2022, we went a long way in the hurling and won the football, but definitely, that year, we were feeding off the momentum in both codes, which really helped,' defender O'Shea said.
"We try and do that every year, try and build momentum from both codes. It does help and if we can get off the mark on Saturday, it would be huge.
"The first game is huge for every team; it takes a small bit of pressure off. You're not home and hosed yet but it definitely takes a bit of pressure off."
Newmarket, O'Shea assures us, is all Kilshannig are thinking about in the here and now. But this is no easy group.
Éire Óg, relegated from the senior ranks last year, and Kanturk, beaten on penalties by eventual winners Carrigaline at the last-four stage, await in the weeks to come.
"We're looking forward to it. We're just going to take it game-by-game and see how we go,' O'Shea said. 'We know it's going to be a tough battle, we know there will be no easy game at any stage this year.
"It's a tough group; there'll be no easy games. They're big names, but we're looking forward to playing them teams; that's who you want to be playing.
'You want to be playing the top teams, and here we are now, thrown into the middle of it, so yeah, really looking forward to it."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Physicality key in making step up to PIHC ranks, insists Lisgoold's Liam O'Shea
Lisgoold and Imokilly hurler Liam O'Shea enjoyed a fruitful 2024, and he'll be dreaming of a 2025 full of similar success. The Intermediate A crown was secured for Lisgoold after a replay against Erin's Own, and O'Shea, along with John Cronin and Cork senior starlet Diarmuid 'Dudsy' Healy, were part of the Premier Senior county-winning Imokilly side. "It was great for me and great for the club, we also had Johnsy (Cronin) and Duds (Healy) as well, they played that day, they started. It was great for the club to win two counties in the one year, and especially for us," O'Shea said. That replay win over Erin's Own was a special one for O'Shea, who led the charge that November day, scoring 1-2. 'Dudsy' also played no small part, of course, earning the man of the match gong. Forward O'Shea told of their journey from the East Cork Junior A ranks to the Premier Intermediate level of Cork hurling. It hasn't been easy, highlighted by the difficulty of bouncing back from the drawn county final last year. "It was a tough week to recover for the next day, but we got there in the end," he said. "We were thrilled to get over the line. "We actually started Junior A, my first year up would have been 2017, and we lost to St Catherine's, who went on and won the county. We had a few years of heartbreak, but we finally got over the line in 2020. We won the East Cork and county that year and we've just been on a roll ever since." Having progressed from Division 4, it was a league campaign spent solidifying their place in Division 3, no bad preparation for the test that awaits them in the PIFC, where a group consisting of Valley Rovers, Mallow and neighbours Dungourney. "There was a lot of senior teams in it (Division 3)," he said. "They were good, tough games and we finished mid-table. Our first year up, we learned a lot off them now, they were so physical and that's what championship is going to be all about now this year, the physicality and how hard we work." First up is for Lisgoold - under the stewardship of proven coach Niall O'Halloran - is Valley Rovers, followed by Mallow and Dungourney. "I'd say we'll back ourselves (against Valleys), they're a big side so we'll have to bring our physicality and we know what we can do and we know what they can do... Dungourney would be our very close neighbours, so that'll be a great game, an East Cork derby. We went to school with a lot of those boys, played Harty together." "We'd have very good friends down there, we were actually with them at the All-Ireland, so there was good craic around the bunch of lads we were with. "We've actually never played them in club before, so it'll be a strange one," added O'Shea. Friendships will be parked, but for O'Shea and Lisgoold, it's full steam ahead for the 2025 edition of the PIHC.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Kilshannig find all the answers in win over Newmarket
Cork Senior A FC: Kilshannig 1-18 (1-1-16) Newmarket 0-14 (0-2-10) A searching test of Kilshannig's credentials before they found their answers quickly to questions posed by Newmarket in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC at Kilbrin on Saturday evening. Few could argue with the outcome, the promoted Premier Intermediate champions performed with intensity and a purpose to claim an impressive win. Apart from a nervous opening in their debut outing in the grade, Kilshannig put together an attractive brand of football. Sluggish early on, Kilshannig did open the scoring with a Michael Murphy point yet Newmarket held the upperhand at midfield, that allowed Conor O'Keeffe, Aidan Browne, Cathal Browne and Barry O'Connor to deliver a run of points. Kilshannig proceeded to steady the ship, shaping up the better of the two sides through the impressive play of Shane O'Connell, Colm O'Shea, Eanna O'Hanlon and Jack Twomey in key departments. Quick-fire points from Darragh O'Sullivan, O'Hanlon and O'Shea helped square up the game. And on 13 minutes, Kilshannig exposed space within the Newmarket defence, Alan O'Connell accepting a pass from his brother Shane to net from close range for the game's only goal. Kieran Twomey added a point before Newmarket put the brakes on the Kilshannig surge briefly, Cathal Browne obliged with a two-pointer, the ball hopping over the Kilshannig crossbar. Again Kilshannig responded in a productive spell, a run of five consecutive points from Twomey, O'Hanlon and O'Sullivan helped secure a 1-10 to 0-7 advantage at the interval. The sides exchanged points on the restart yet Kilshannig found a slicker gear, the influential O'Shea and O'Hanlon bisecting the uprights. Kilshannig lost O'Shea to injury before the loudest cheer of the game greeted a massive two-pointer from former Cork senior Killian O'Hanlon just after entering the fray as a substitute. Though a disappointing Newmarket answered with a Barry O'Connor point, the Glantane side continued to hold the upperhand, Twomey pointing back to back. Newmarket weren't prepared to let their challenge completely collapse, answering back with four points that included a two-pointer free from Hugh O'Connor. However, Kilshannig controlled the latter stages, seeing out the remaining minutes without fuss, a Jack Twomey point completed a satisfactory outing, a historic occasion for the club by recording a first-time championship victory at senior level. A positive start to the campaign for Kilshannig, who now face Kanturk. Newmarket will seek an improvement against Éire Óg. Scorers for Kilshannig: E O'Hanlon 0-5 (0-2 f), K Twomey 0-4, D O'Sullivan 0-3 (0-1 f), A O'Connell 1-0, K O'Hanlon 0-2 (1 pt), C O'Shea 0-2, M Murphy, J Twomey 0-1 each. Newmarket: H O'Connor 0-4 (0-1 tpf, 0-1 f), C Browne 0-3 (1 tp), C O'Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 f), B O'Connor 0-2, R O'Keeffe (45), A Browne, D O'Keeffe 0-1 each. KILSHANNIG: G Creedon; C Murphy, E Burke, S O'Connell; E Healy, C O'Shea, C Geary; S Murphy, C O'Connell; A O'Connell, K Twomey, M Murphy; J Twomey, D O'Sullivan, E O'Hanlon. Subs: K O'Hanlon for M Murphy (38), B Creedon for C O'Shea (41 inj). NEWMARKET: J O'Keeffe; M Browne, R Lynn, J O'Connor; P Allen, A Ryan, B Daly; C Browne, A Browne; D O'Keeffe, B O'Connor, D Hannon; H O'Connor, C O'Keeffe, R O'Keeffe. Subs: B Newman for J O'Keeffe (36 inj), C Crowley for D Hannon (43), E Goggin for A Ryan (43). Referee: Pa O'Driscoll (Bride Rovers).
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Casey steers Aghabullougue to win over Blues
Cork Premier IFC: Aghabullogue 2-11 Bantry Blues 0-12 A Luke Casey-led Aghabullogue outfit got their championship campaign off to the perfect start after outbattling Bantry Blues in Ballingeary. Aghabullougue – beaten finalists last year – hassled and harried Bantry to great effect in the first half, and won the big moments throughout to ensure they sit atop Group 1. The ever-dangerous Casey would garner 1-4 throughout the hour, but his contributions were timely, none more so than his 48th minute left-footed goal. It gave them a seven-point lead. It proved to be insurmountable for the West Cork men. Turnovers proved to be a major issue early on and that was the case for much of the first half. Multi-talented forward Casey would open scoring for Aghabullogue – from a Bantry turnover – in the 4th minute after some early waywardness. Cork underage star Dara Sheedy would find the reply for the Blues. Matthew Bradley – who linked up admirably with Casey all day would put his name on the scoresheet for the Muskerry men before the 10-minute mark. Again, that score came from a turnover. Bradley kicked a two-point free before Arthur Coakley knocked over his first with 15 gone. 0-5 to 0-2. Advantage Aghabullogue. Dara Sheedy would scuff a two-point free effort before curling a gorgeous one over off his right. Gather. Shimmy. Shoot. Score. Deficit back to two. Arthur Coakley pushed a free wide in the 24th minute and up the other end, a fast transition saw Evan O'Sullivan in on goal and he duly finished. Four-point swing. 1-5 to 0-3. After a Paddy Cronin free for Bantry, Bradley and Casey would link up for perhaps the score of the day as the clock ticked towards the break. Bradley delivery, Casey finish. Bantry almost capitalized on poor Aghabullougue defending on the stroke of half-time. A powerful Mark Óg O'Sullivan run could have yielded a goal, but his shot flew just over. An opening 30 full of tenacity would end 1-6 to 0-5 points. The game restarted and all eyes were immediately on Dara Sheedy – and Casey. Casey saw yellow for a late hit on Bantry 'keeper Shane Murray, with the Blues' sideline questioning if further action was warranted. That incident was sandwiched in between two classy left-footed scores from Sheedy. Casey and Bantry livewire Shane Keevers would swap scores thereafter, while Paul Ring and Aaron O'Sullivan points restored Aghabullogue's four-point lead in the 45th minute. Bantry would then fail to capitalize on two scoring opportunities, and along came the sucker punch. Great Casey movement saw him gather close to goal and convert expertly. A mini Bantry-revival – from Seanie O' Leary and the Sheedy brothers Dara and Jack – would follow but points from Aaron O'Sullivan and Bradley meant Aghabullogue went home happy. Scorers for Aghabullogue: L Casey 1-4, M Bradley 0-4 (1 2pt free), E O'Sullivan (1-0), A O'Sullivan 0-2 (0-1 45'), P Ring 0-1. Scorers for Bantry Blues: D Sheedy 0-5, S O'Leary 0-2 (1 2pt free), S Keevers, A Coakley (0-1f), P Cronin (0-1f), J Sheedy, M Óg O'Sullivan 0-1 each. AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; C Smith, D Merrick, T Long; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O'Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; A O'Sullivan, J Corkery, P O'Sullivan; M Bradley, E O'Sullivan, L Casey. Subs: C O'Sullivan for P O'Sullivan (43), O O'Connell for L Casey (blood, 51-55), O O'Connell for A O'Sullivan (64). BANTRY BLUES: S Murray; K Coakley, S Thornton, C O'Brien; D McCarthy, B Foley, M Óg O'Sullivan; R O'Mahony, E Minehane; S Keevers, A Coakley, J Sheedy; D Sheedy, K Casey, P Cronin. Subs: D Daly for E Minehane (43), S O'Leary for M Óg O'Sullivan (45), O O'Neill for P Cronin (51). Referee: Wayne King
