Duane: It’s just about an hour’s

KANTURK hurling manager Donough Duane believes the club’s hurling team is stronger this season, possessing the depth that’s capable of landing a county premier intermediate hurling championship title.

Duane took on the managerial mantle earlier in the year after a successful innings as a player, highlighted on a Co. IHC triumph in 2013. The previous season Duane captained a defeated Kanturk in a decider against Kilworth where wayward shooting and 18 wides dampened their prospects of Kanturk sampling outright victory.

Twelve months on, Kanturk banished the previous year’s disappointment on a highly impressive performance against Éire Óg to land the silverware and promotion to premier intermediate ranks.

“I had no longer the pace for the game, to become manager was a new proposition and when I looked at the squad available, it was a great opportunity to play a part. We sought an outside voice, that’s always beneficial, Jim McCarthy from Glen Rovers got involved, his enthusiasm outstanding, getting to know the players emerged as a huge help,” he said.

“The hurling and football managements sat down together early in the year and reflected on the previous season to determine on a course of action. From a hurling perspective, we bowed out of the championship far too easily, the players were eager for the 2017 campaign to get up and running,” said Duane.

Regarded as the most competitive grade in the county, Kanturk can vouch for sampling mixed returns over the past four seasons in the premier competition, reaching a semi-final in 2014 only to lose to Newcestown and requiring a win over Tracton last season to avoid relegation trouble.

“We’ve learned each year from the experience of the two extremes, reaching a semi final and fending off relegation, that allowed us improve on tactics and fitness levels. Each summer turns to be a pre season, given the lack of club championship games in June and July, that worked against us in recent years where our fitness and probably our attitude level dropped,” said Duane.

“This season, we’ve kept it focused responding very well in