O'Rahillys test will see the real proof of Clonakilty's pudding
Saturday November 07 2009
CLONAKILTY may have got the draw from hell in the Munster SFC club championship -- away to Kerins O'Rahillys in Tralee tomorrow -- but that still hasn't dampened their enthusiasm in a huge year for the West Cork club.
David O'Regan's late free sealed their memorable county final victory over legendary city club St Finbarr's, their first success in 13 years.
And just a week later, seven of the same players featured in the West Cork junior hurling final which they only lost by a point.
Clon' also lost this year's junior 'B' football final by a point, so it has been a hectic year for the club which fields seven adult and 20 juvenile teams, including hurling, camogie and girls football.
A mile out the Skibbereen road, at their new grounds in Ahamilla, is another tangible testament to their progress -- a €9m state-of-the-art complex that even includes a Pilates studio and is already in line for a design award.
Secretary John Loughnan freely admits that Clonakilty were lucky enough to surf the last great wave of the now deflated property boom in 2004, when their members agreed to sell their old eight-acre site for development.
That deal pocketed them a whopping €8.7m and when you throw in their trendy foodie sponsor -- the Clonakilty Black Pudding Company -- they're a club that has clearly made hay while the Celtic Tiger was roaring loudest.
But the club also didn't win a county title for 44 years (1952-1996) and lost the 2003 county final, which makes them all the more appreciative of their latest success.
Surprisingly, they didn't have one player on this year's Cork senior panel, though Conor McManus, Denis Murphy and Colm Callanan have played National League games for the Rebels.
So have '96 survivors Padraig Griffin and Brendan Walsh, and many believe Colin O'Donovan's form will soon put him in the frame.
Nigel Hayes, Denis Murphy and Finbarr Coughlan are injury worries this weekend but their Kerry opponents, who will have Tommy Walsh and David Moran ahead of their Aussie Rules departure, will themselves be without Michael Quirke whose suspension, Munster Council have ruled, carries over to this competition.
Victory against the legendary 'Strand Road' has a great carrot -- a chance to show off their spectacular new grounds in a home semi-final against Tipperary's Moyle Rovers.
Thirteen years ago Clonakilty went all the way to the Munster final where Laune Rangers took them out and club secretary Loughnan doesn't need any lessons on the power of Kerry football.
"Both my parents are from Killarney and my wife is from Kenmare!" he revealed. "But I've always thought that when people are faced with a mountain it brings out the best in them!"
- Cliona Foley
Irish Independent
