Kilshannig ready to reap rewards from hard work

Kilshannig v St James

Sunday, November 10 Páirc Uí Rinn, 3.15pm Referee: Alan O’Connor

SOME things just take time. No matter how much you rush, or push or pray for something to happen you sometimes find that you just have to wait – patience I believe it is called – you just have to have patience.

Well, if patience is an virtue to be commended we should all take a bow in the direction of Kilshannig GAA club as they have waited all of 23 years to get back to a junior county football final – a wait that has been finally ended thanks to the efforts of the club’s current crop of highly talented, motivated and successful local stars.

Kilshannig will play St James’ of the Carbery division this Sunday after qualifying for their first junior final since 1996.

The North Cork club secured their place in the showdown game by beating Iveleary two weeks ago, but their presence in the final is down to much more than one game – it comes after years of effort, both on and off the pitch, from this hugely progressive and impressive club.

Led on the pitch by Cork star Killian O’Hanlon, Kilshannig have all the fire power up front and in the middle to cause damage to any opposition, but as everyone knows, promise and talent off the pitch guarantees you nothing on it so Kilshannig will need to be at their best this Sunday if they are to take what would be an historic win for all concerned.

O’Hanlon may well be the stand out name and performer for his side however he is far from the only player that will need to perform this weekend if the boys in blue are to win this one at the first time of asking. O’Hanlon’s brother, Éanna is another player of the highest quality and he, like his senior inter-county brother will have a huge say in what Kilshannig do this weekend.

Kieran, Jack and Dermot Twomey all possess plenty going forward with the trio not afraid to put in the hard yards when required. Brian Guerin is another that will be called upon this Sunday to make an impression, especially considering the side have lost Darragh O’Sullivan to a thigh injury in that win over Iveleary.

Other than O’Sullivan it looks like manager Richie Ryan will have a full squad to pick from which may well be crucial at this stage of the season.

For anyone that thinks Kilshannig will have this one their own way well they will likely be in for a big surprise this weekend as the Carbery champions are well worth their place in the showpiece game and are on an uncharted adventure themselves this season after making it to and winning their first divisional title – before securing passage to this, their first county final.

St James’ have all the attributes up front to cause Kilshannig some damage with players of the quality of Aaron Hayes, James O’Sullivan, Michael McCarthy and Alan O’Shea.

All looking to get themselves on the scoreboard. At the back watch out for wing-back Micheal McCarthy who has plenty talent and an eye for the posts with O’Shea their talisman both from play and frees.

O’Shea will fill a double role

O’Hanlon may well be the stand out performer for his side, but he is far from the only player who will need to perform

on the day as he is also the team’s coach however this Sunday all his eyes will be firmly on things inside the whitewash as he attempts to make it a year to remember for his side.

It’s hard to deny that the Ardfield and Rathbarry club don’t deserve to win this title, based on their efforts so far, this year, but if Kilshannig are to go on and collect their first junior title in almost three decades then there will be no room for sentiment.

This is a difficult one to call with both sides making a great case to be worthy winners however with Killian and Eanna O’Hanlon on the pitch, few will look too far past making Kilshannig slight favourites to finally take this one.

All to play for but the feeling around large parts of the county is that this may well be the Avondhu side’s year and who would I be to go against that.

Verdict: Kilshannig