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*The experienced Cian Dillon will be at the heart of the Crusheen defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Having experienced the heartbreak and deflation of being relegated before an eleventh hour provincial reprieve, if there ever was a kick in Crusheen, it has to come in the next two months.
From the high of bringing Na Piarsaigh to a Munster Senior Club Championship replay to relegation to intermediate in just over a decade just seemed unthinkable and therefore they will be determined to never have any dalliance with danger ever again.
That inevitable backlash was already evident in the Clare Cup, a ploy which the group targeted according to manager Kevin Sheehan.
“We went back a couple of weeks earlier than most clubs. While we didn’t kill them, they definitely got the structures in place early and to be fair, we probably we a step ahead in most games early on in the Clare Cup. Getting points on the board early was something we were anxious to do as a group and once the confidence started coming, we were competitive once we got enough on the field”.
Having not won a regular championship match since 2019, Crusheen couldn’t have asked for a tougher start than facing last year’s finalists Inagh/Kilnamona.
“It is a big, big test, there’s no doubt about it. They’re one of the teams right at the top of the ladder with serious aspirations of winning it out but at the same time, I felt that last year we got a little caught up early on with what was in front of us as opposed to the strength of our own pack. “So while we’re acutely aware of exactly what Inagh/Kilnamona have, at the same time our focus all year has been on developing ourselves so we’ll get as much right as we can ourselves and then hope that that’s enough to be in the game coming down the final straight to have a say”.
So with Ross Hayes, John Brigdale and Sean Mhaoir fronting their casualty list, what about Crusheen’s other group rivals?
“Wolfe Tones have three county men so that’s a problem for us straight away as some of our countrymen have been away from that scene for a couple of years whereas some of the younger inter-county prospects are arguably still a bit too young so Wolfe Tones will be a big, big test for us.
“Equally, Smith O’Brien’s, having come out of a hugely competitive division, the intermediate champions normally have a decent say in reaching a senior quarter-final.
“So we’re aware that we’re going from the frying pan into the fire as this group develops but luckily enough, Inagh/Kilnamona are too big a test to even think about anything past them.”
Management: Kevin Sheehan (Manager); Aidan Harte (Coach); Stephen Cunningham, Diarmaid O’Doherty (Selectors); Pa McEvoy (S&C)
Captain: Cian Dillon
Key Player: Ross Hayes
One to Watch: Oisin O’Donnell
Fresh Blood: Glenn O’Sullivan, Mark O’Sullivan
Departures Gate: Ciaran O’Doherty
Titles Won: 2
Most Recent Title: 2011
Last season’s run: There had been slippage in recent seasons but no-one could have foreseen that Crusheen would spiral through the relegation trapdoor before being relievedly granted amnesty to remain in the senior ranks.
