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*Conor Deasy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
If there’s a tinge of Déjà Vu in the air in Sixmilebridge, it’s because they’ve been at this crossroads before. 13 years ago in fact (the significance of the number 13 being another eerie omen), the club brought in a fresh-faced manager John O’Meara with the priority of ushering in a new generation of young players (backed by a historic five-in-a-row of County Under 16A crowns) to a senior side that had contested a county final two years ago.
That assimilation process proved a lot swifter than first anticipated as the young guns hit the ground sprinting to dethrone their nearest and dearest neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus to garner a first Canon Hamilton title in eleven years before going on to accumulate a whopping five county senior crowns in an eight year blitz.
After six years at the helm and three Canon Hamilton trophies in the cabinet in 2013, ’15 and ’17, O’Meara stepped down at the end of 2018 but the golden generation would go on to produce two more county senior triumphs in 2019 and ’20 under Tim Crowe and Davy Fitzgerald.
Subsequently, Tommy Liddy and Stiofan Fitzpatrick managed to squeeze one last compelling run to a final out of the ageless wonders in 2024 but with Sixmilebridge winning a first Minor A since that aforementioned last crop in 2011, the stark realisation that another velvet revolution of youth was required meant that there was only one man for the job.
“The club asked me if I was interested in taking the team again,” began the returning John O’Meara after guiding Kiladangan to only their second ever Tipperary Senior success in their history in his debut season in charge in 2023. “I had just finished up with Kiladangan after committing to doing three years with them so from my perspective, I’d have a closeness to a lot of those players over a long number of years so I said I’d go for it and see how it goes”.
So what about the comparisons between his last administration and this one? “It’s two very different eras first of all. I mean we had an unbelievable crop of players that came through together the last time and won five titles for a finish in eight years and luckily enough there are a share of those still playing. But I suppose the same process still applies in some regard as last year we won a really, really competitive Minor A Championship, our first in thirteen or fourteen years and we also won an Under 15A Championship so over the next few years, we’re going to get a lot of players out of those two teams.
“So we just have to make sure and develop them properly into senior and that we’re looking to the future and that’s something that we had experienced of from our previous time in charge and we’d be hoping to do again in the next number of years”.
Some things never change but that’s not the case in Clare as his former coach from those early championship wins Brian Culbert is now in his fourth year in charge of Kilmaley whom they inevitably face last to potentially decide their fate while up first are two neighbours Wolfe Tones and Newmarket-on-Fergus that will surely be rolling out the red carpet for O’Meara’s return.
“Each of the groups when you look across them, all the games are really competitive and dog-eat-dog no matter if it’s a local derby or a team that you haven’t met in years. It’s really about being prepared for the battle when it arrives so we’ve a lot of work done over the last few months so with Shannon up first on Saturday, the lads are really, really looking forward to it now, It’s a good while since we had a competitive game so we’re rearing to get up and running now.
“Look, there’s a lot of quality in that Wolfe Tones team and I think they proved that in last year’s first round when they drew with county champions Feakle so we’re under no illusion as to the challenge they’ll be bringing. You look across their team and the quality they have, a lot of people will point to the county lads but they’ve plenty of club players with real quality as well so we’re fully aware of the challenge that’s ahead of us. But that’s what we prepared for so we’ll be giving it a good go”.
Watch this space.
Sixmilebridge Factfile:
Management: John O’Meara (Manager); Tadgh Keogh, Aidan Quilligan, Kieran Bermingham, Paul Fitzpatrick (Coaches); Kyle Kelly (S&C): Tom Cregan (Physio); Pat Keane (Logistics); Aidan O’Connor, Jamesie Hassett (Kitmen); Danny Reddan, Ronan O’Shea, Pa Punch, Sean Lynch, Stephen Fleming (Stats)
Captain: Undecided
Key Player: Cathal Malone
One to Watch: Mark Sheedy
Fresh Blood: Calum Phelan, Jack O’Halloran, Rory Chaplin, Stephen Gavin, Mark Mullins
Departure Gate: None
Treatment Table: None
Titles Won: 15 (1977, ’79, ’83, ’84, ’89, ’92, ’93, ’95, 2000, ’02, ’13, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘20)
Last season’s run: Beaten by Brian Culbert’s Kilmaley in quarter-final
Schedule
Round 1 v Wolfe Tones at Páirc Micheál Uí hEithir, Cratloe (Saturday, July 25th) 1pm
Round 2 v Newmarket-on-Fergus at Dr. Daly Park, Tulla (Saturday, August 8th) 1pm
Round 3 v Kilmaley at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis (Sunday, August 23rd) 3.30pm
Championship power ranking (1=weak/unlikely winners, 10=strong contenders): 6
