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*Darragh Conneely and Michael Cotter in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ENNISTYMON head into the second round of the Clare SFC against Kilmihil “with our eyes wide open” in what is a derby duel on the double.
For the second year on the bounce, round two pits Ennistymon and Kilmihil. Last year, a Dan Keating inspired Kilmihil caused one of the shocks of the Clare SHC when overturning their North Clare opponents 0-16 0-13.
It’s back to Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park in Doonbeg when the sides renew their rivalry, Ennistymon will be determined not to make the same mistakes while Kilmihil need to win to reignite their championship following a first round loss to Kildysart.
On either sideline will be coaches facing off against their native clubs. Declan Downes is in his second season as Ennistymon manager, he represented Kilmihil at all levels and was part of their 2008 team to win the Clare intermediate football championship, he was one of their leading scorers in that campaign and the Downes name is synonymous with Kilmihil and not just football in the parish.
Former FAI CDO, Denis Hynes a proud Ennistymon man is coach of the Kilmihil senior footballers this season. It’s not his first time involved in the Clare SFC, he was coach to the Noel Crowe managed Ennistymon senior footballers who emeged from a tricky Group 1 in 2021 where they defeated Cratloe and Cooraclare, lost to Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown before exiting to Éire Óg in the quarter-finals which saw the Townies reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2014 before claiming the Jack Daly.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Downes said the lessons from last year’s loss to Kilmihil must be put into practice. “We’re going in with our eyes wide open, I didn’t see the game versus Kildysart but I’ve plenty of people telling me they gave a really good account of themselves, they will fight tooth and nail, they are a proud bunch and I know them well, I’ve no doubt of what is coming ahead of me and these guys have as well, there is a lesson standing right in front of us for what happened last year, we’ll treat it with the utmost respect it deserves and deliver a performance that can get us over the line”.
