The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Knock boss has a great knowledge of Kingdom
KNOCKNAGREE boss John Fintan Daly is relishing an opportunity to halt Kerry’s domination in the Munster Club JAFC. Anticipation is growing along the county bounds as the Cork champions face the might of Dromid Pearses in the final in Mallow on Sunday.
Holding first hand knowledge in Kerry club football having guided Miltown / Castlemaine to All Ireland success in 2011, Daly is now at helm in his own native heath.
“After spending two seasons with Miltown / Castlemaine and involved with an experienced and mature side, it was a shock to the system to return to Knocknagree. Still I had been involved at underage level yet it has been a major challenge in the five year journey,” he said.
“This year alone, we‘ve played 38 games, two more to go, the Munster Club Final and a County Junior A League Final against Canovee. From the past five seasons, big experience has been achieved and developing a winning mentality.”
Daly believes Knocknagree left a Cork title slip last season, erratic shooting emerged a hindrance on a semi final replay loss to Gabriel Rangers who in turn advanced to a Munster Final only to come up short to a powerful Glenbeigh / Glencar in the Munster Final.
“It’s becoming a habit, since 2007, Cork sides have failed to master their Kerry opponents in both junior and intermediate grades with many of those Kerry sides going on to win All Ireland titles.
“We‘ve no issue on playing Kerry clubs, holding the highest regard of them, but away from the trepidation that’s part of many Cork teams when they face Kerry teams.”
It’s been no bed of roses for Knocknagree in the current campaign, availing of a back door in a revamped Cork championship to ignite their charge for county honours after their three in a row bid for Duhallow JAFC honours were scuttled by Boherbue in a replay.
“I was a known opponent of the new format to allow two teams per division to enter the county, it devalued the divisional championship. What it meant, all was needed was to qualify for a divisional final and truthfully, we had designs on the county championship”, said Daly.
Despite a scare against Iveleary in a semi-final, Knocknagree have amassed impressive scores en route to bettering Erins Own in a county decider, much the same in the Munster series against Knockavilla Kickhams and Sliabh gCua.
“We’re not reliant on flogging the same 15 players and in each of the two Munster games to date, we finished with just seven players that started the county final. Our top forward Anthony O’Connor sacrificed himself to play in the county final, he is out until January and it required other players to step up to the mark,” he said.
Understandably, Daly wasn’t losing the run of himself after impressive wins in the two previous outings ahead of facing a stern test on Sunday against a team from the Kingdom.
“Having been involved in Kerry football, I know how the system work, just eight senior clubs and the bottom line is Dromid Pearses are ranked 25 in the county. That contrasts to Cork, a huge number of senior clubs, you wonder if many are up to the standard, add in two intermediate grades followed by junior,” he said.
“In effect, Knocknagree are currently rated as the 52nd football team in our county, on Sunday that 52nd Cork side faces the Kerry equivalent rated at 25. Of course Kerry are considered as a much more stronger football county, those stats don’t worry us for we’ve prepared well all year.”
However Daly is well aware of the challenge facing Knocknagree from a resilient Dromid Pearses and sang the praises of their manager Declan O’Sullivan after seeing at first hand his opponents ward off Galtee Gaels in a semi final.
“They talk about Declan as a tremendous player, but he is no mean manager, at half time, he reshuffled his attack, bringing full forward Thomas Curran to midfield. That takes a lot of courage, it worked and the outcome sets up an old firm derby in a Munster Final,” he said.
“Coming from a hotbed of football, we know their desire and determination that’s already sampled a previous Munster title.
“Still Knocknagree are no novices on being around the block too, we’re not going to be blinkered on coming up against a club from a county who are the leading lights in club football.”