*Cratloe captain, Kevin Harnett. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SO FAR as sporting years go Kevin Harnett is having one hell of a time.
In his third year lining out with Cratloe’s senior footballers, Harnett had the distinction of captaining the side as they were crowned Clare senior football champions for the third time in their history.
Earlier this year, Kevin lined out in the heart of midfield in April when Newmarket Celtic were crowned FAI Junior Cup champions for the first time. They followed it up by winning back the Premier Division title from Avenue Utd.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, he said of his magical sporting year, “You couldn’t write the year! If you tried to plan out a year like this it would never happen, the stars aligned, worked hard for many a year not just this year, it has been special”.
He had played minor for Cratloe when his native Meelick had no club, getting to captain the side was something to be proud of, he said. “I’m very proud to be representing this group of boys, an incredible group, I’ll have to bring someone up with me because I won’t be going up on my own”. Indeed it was Padraigh Chaplin who accompanied him to accept the Jack Daly and assist with various acknowledgements during the speech.
Confidence for Cratloe was aided by the amount of research they had done on their opponents before a ball was kicked. “We were so prepared going into the game, we knew they’d be a huge challenge and they were, we had to cross our ts and dot our is, analysing them in the last week, they are a fantastic side, we stuck to our plan and eventually it paid off, the rub of the green rubbed our way today”.
For the former Clare defender, getting the test of coming up against both Joe McGann and Jamie Stack provided a stern afternoon. “There is no show like a Joe show they say but Stack is quality as well, Joe kicked a rake of scores today, we were prepared for him but he still did it, it just shows the quality of player that St Breckan’s have, they are a quality outfit and they will be there or thereabouts for the next couple of years with that crop of players, they have a savage team”.
