*Banner’s Ronan Kilroy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
STEPPING up when he was needed most, Ronan Kilroy’s leadership came to the fore once again as Banner secured their senior promotion.
At wing forward, Ronan got on to dirty ball when Banner needed a ball winner, making the most of his physicality and power, his tremendous two pointers have been evident for the Ennis club on their run to a historic first Clare intermediate football title.
Though he may not have chipped in with a score, it was an excellent through ball from Kilroy that sent Thomas Meenaghan for their green flag on thirty six minutes that saw them regain the lead which they never relinquished.
Mistakes can happen in a game but a player can always leave everything out on the field, the UL student outlined. “I do my part and try to do my best. I was out of the game at times, it is your own responsibility to try get into the game, I tried my best, that is all you can do, that is what all the coaches say, no matter who the coach is, all you can do is do your best and work as hard as you can so that is what I did. I am just delighted to get over the line”.
One of the standout players for Clare’s U20 hurlers that captured All-Ireland and provincial honours this year, Ronan also made his debut for the Clare seniors in the Allianz National Hurling League starting against Down before entering the fray in championship versus Waterford.
Achieving with his club “is extremely special” to succeeding with the county. “It is a different feeling, your club is different, I’ve been there since day one, I remember my first day down there even though I joined late enough at the age of nine or ten, I remember that day well and to this day I made the best of friends there, it is really special playing alongside lads you have known since you were seven years of age but I love playing for the Banner, it is really special”.
Behind the scenes work is essential to hone the football skills when the county campaign concludes, Ronan said. “It does take a while, you have to spend a few lonely nights on your own but to be honest I love going back to football. It is like anything, if you don’t do anything for a while you love going back to it so when the hurling season is finished, I love going back to football. I hadn’t kicked a ball in a while but you get used to it, I am really enjoying it and playing with my friends again”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the twenty year old was already looking to getting to play senior football with his club in 2027. “It sounds unbelievable. When I came in we were already intermediate so it was only one grade but there’s lads have been here since 2015 or thereabouts playing Junior B when the Banner was barely a club and we could barely field teams, since then we have come a long way. There is a few older lads that have been here for time and they have put so much effort into it, even the lads on the committee who put so much work in, I am so lucky to be part of a team like this, it sounds good to be playing alongside the top teams in Clare next year so we’re just looking forward to it now”.
