Journey is well worth it for the Turks

IT seems like an eternity ago now but Kanturk started their current crusade back in early 2017 and after a hugely impressive campaign took on Mallow for the right to be called Cork County Champions.

Kanturk won that game with probably their least impressive performance of the year and so this current quest for All Ireland glory began in earnest. That night in Pairc Uí Rinn the two strongest premier sides in the county went head to head and while most of the pundits predicted a Mallow win few could have imagined that the sides would trade 35 wides between them – all that said, Kanturk showed the resolve to see that one out and move on to the provincial competition.

St Mary’s of Tipperary were the first side to stand in the way of the Duhallow men in the Munster quarter-final and despite coming into the contest in Mallow as the champions of the mighty Premier County Kanturk easily saw them off by all of 12 points, 2-17 to 0-11.

The reward for that win was a semi-final berth, an away trip to Tralee to take on Kerry’s Ballyduff. Little doubt who the favourites were here, but credit to the Kingdom kingpins they put it up to Kanturk despite a terrible start only going down by five points at the finish. 1-20 – 2-12.

Ballyduff really did impress many on the day but Kanturk were on a roll by this point and were never likely to let this one slip past.

Kilmaley of Clare were Kanturk’s Munster Final opponents and without fear of contradiction this was one of the games of the year at any grade. Both sides locked horns from the first to the final whistle with extra time required to separate the sides. Kanturk won out by a single point at the death to be crowned Munster Champions for the first time in their history.

Kanturk led this one by six points with a quarter of an hour to go but the Banner side were far from finished and brought the game back to parity late on. The sides were level on no fewer than seven occasions, but it was Kanturk that needed to secure extra time with a Paul Walsh point after it looked like they might be going home. However, on the day they would dramatically take the win as they moved to the All-Ireland series proper.

Kanturk took to the air for their All Ireland quarter-final clash with Kilburn Gaels in December. The Duhallow men had little trouble getting past the expats, but they did concede a brace of goals which could easily have been costly – that said, Kanturk racked up an impressive 2-17 on the day which was far too hot for the Gaels.

Last Saturday’s clash with Middletown Na Fianna was all about getting through to the final and credit to the Rebel side they did what was required with little fuss. A cool, perfect opening, saw them lead by nine points at the break and while they didn’t push on to any great extent there was no doubting from the 14th minute, when Anthony Nash goaled from the spot, that this one was going the way of the men in green and white. Kanturk have faced some of the best clubs from the strongest counties in Ireland and credit to the Duhallow men they came out smiling at the end of all of them. Now they will face the champions of Kilkenny (St Patricks Ballyragget) and while this will be another big step up who could bet against the north Cork side going all the way?