Duhallow look to the O’Connors for leadership

DUHALLOW attempt to take the stage a step further on Sunday, that follows a hectic few weeks for Anthony O’Connor and Donncha O’Connor who have guided the team on the field of play. With little opportunity to dwell on a demanding past few weeks its all about looking ahead to the next game.

To speak of a bumper season for Anthony is an understatement, last February, part of a Knocknagree side that took custody of All Ireland JAFC silverware in Croke Park. A lengthy hand injury over the summer curtailed his involvement, now getting back to full fitness.

“Those three games against Castlehaven caught the imagination, in the second replay, the boys were outstanding, stepping up to a new level,” he said. “It’s been a long two years for the Knocknagree and Kanturk players involved culminating on All Ireland Finals triumphs. Maybe not the best of intermediate championship campaigns for Knocknagree but it gave us the opportunity to focus with Duhallow and that’s rewarded on reaching a county final”.

O’Connor isn’t too perturbed on the scheduling of the games, a tough past few weeks involving physical battles with extra time thrown into the mix.

“Being a division, the five games over the past six weeks or so has suited us, bringing on our work-rate leaps and bounds. But in the final, we’ve to take it up to the next level, the ‘Barrs will be determined to erase the disappointment of a loss to Nemo Rangers from last season,” he said.

Colleague Donnncha O’Connor shows no sign of his hunger abating after a memorable career for club, division and county, In 2012, Duhallow were closing on a county title on leading Castlehaven only to concede the game’s only goal at the end of regulation time.

“Look at the recent games against the ‘Haven, not for a minute can an opposition sit back. As we found to our cost in 2012, you must play for more than 60 minutes to better them,” he said.

The Ballydesmond great holds many great honours in the game, one medal is missing that of a senior county.

“There was a terrific effort put in 2012, many of those players have moved, its up to the current squad to play and perform to make up for that disappointment. Look at the club success in Duhallow, those teams know what’s involved to win silverware at the highest level, the onus is on us to repeat that success but it take an almighty effort to take the spoils from the ‘Barrs,” he said.