Kanturk and Knocknagree captains land GAA award
EVERYTHING comes to those that wait and the patience of Kanturk and Knocknagree were rewarded on a never to be forgotten voyage that landed county, Munster and ultimately the pair scaled greater heights to claim All Ireland honours in just over three months of hectic involvement.
Respective captains Lorcan O’Neill and Matthew Dilworth liking for big days manifested itself with a series of massive performances and the dream of every player to savour the experience of mounting the steps of the Hogan Stand to accept the accolades surfaced for the two great leaders and their respective team mates. And their efforts were acknowledged on the pair receiving the joint C103 GAA Sports Star of the month at a function in the Rochestown Park Hotel.
All through the season, O’Neill made a big statement on his relentless workrate and capacity to lead Kanturk by example.
“To be named club captain was a great honour, when growing up, one always wanted to be Kanturk captain in a final. Everybody knew, we didn’t do ourselves justice in 2017, requiring a win over Tracton to offset possible relegation, going into 2017, we had expectations of faring much better,” he said.
“For 2017, former player Donough Duane got involved as manager, doing all he can for the side and coach Jim McCarthy was very experienced, his knowledge of the game exceptional,” said O’Neill.
The team captain credits the input of inter county players Anthony Nash, Lorcan McLoughlin and Aidan Walsh yet he is quick to say that every player held a key role to the unbeaten run that also landed a county IFC title.
“Two years ago, we lost to Castlelyons and we were keen to turn the tables on coming up against them in the opening round. Really, in the premier intermediate grade, nobody can be taken for granted, any team could win on a given day,” he said.
“Many of the games en route were tight, we got over the line, the perfect preparation for any final, involved in tough and competitive tussles stood to us and that ensured our senior status for 2018.”
One of Knocknagree’s most experienced personnel, Dilworth took on the mantle of team captain for the first time succeeding back to back divisional winning skipper Danny Cooper.
“Danny wanted to step back, I took on the task, twelve months ago, our target was to better 2016. Against Bandon in the 2015 semi final was probably a novelty but we were really disappointed on a defeat by Gabriel Rangers the following season,” he said. “The experience of the previous three seasons helped us, it was about going up to a higher grade and testing ourselves at intermediate level.”
That’s the optimism of a player who won an All Ireland Junior medal with Cork in 2011 and became a faithful servant to the Duhallow divisional side.
“To win an All Ireland medal is a special memory, that medal with Cork is going back a few years, to be part of a team to win a All Ireland Junior with my club was very special. We had 32 players involved, they put in a huge effort in training, we are County Munster and All Ireland Junior champions, I believe that we’re not finished yet, its full steam ahead at intermediate level,” said Dilworth.