O’Malley: After falling on hard times, the current side has revived interest

BEAUFORT team manager Eanna O’Malley had challenged his charges to push on and deliver on the success the Beaufort club and its supporters desperately desired. Plans didn’t go exactly to schedule in the Munster Final, a calamity shortly before throw-in with key link-man Liam Carey forced out of action owing to a hamstring injury.

“To get injured in the warm-up was inexplicable as Liam was in excellent shape. Most unfortunate on unable to start, it was all about making a quick decision, literally Daragh Coffey was told just minutes before the throw-in of starting on the team,” he said.

At stages either side of the interval, outsiders Dromtariffe appeared to hold a determination to upset the form book, O’Malley revealed the favourites tag hadn’t placed a burden on Beaufort.

“We were a little apprehensive coming here given a lack of competitive games, starved of tough games, given the Kerry championship had finished last May, relying on the county league to maintain our focus. Really, its championship games that count, the mantle of favourites didn’t worry us, our concern was the level of quality ties encountered over recent weeks,” he said.

“Though going ahead 1-2 to 0-1 inside the opening eight minutes, we were disappointed on passing up further opportunities. A team is always going to enjoy a purple patch, we didn’t really capitalise, maybe that’s down to a lack of sharpness, Dromtariffe settled, hitting us with two sucker goals and it took us a long spell to eat into the deficit,” said O’Malley.

Having emphasised their determination to land thrilling titles in Kerry and Munster, Beaufort hit a new trail next month in the hope of maintaining a proud Kingdom tradition.

“Up to the Dromtariffe game, we hadn’t looked beyond Munster but that’ s another campaign and it will require a huge amount of workload to achieve. Given, it will be a few weeks, hopefully, it will allow key players Ronan Murphy, out since the Kerry County Final and Liam Carey, the chance to be involved,” said O’Malley.

“Beaufort is football mad, for a small club, the level of interest in the game is unbelievable. We were in the wilderness for so many years, so much frustration, falling on hard times away from the glory days of the 1970/80s, the current side has revived interest and enthusiasm within the club and community,” said a delighted O’Malley.