*Kilmaley captain, Daire Keane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
KILMALEY will be going all out to start the TUS Clare SHC on a high note.
In his second year in charge of Kilmaley, Brian Culbert from Sixmilebridge says “everyone’s first round is their county final. The first round brings excitement yet no one knows what to expect”.
A championship winner with his native club where he has also had success as a coach he says “Kilmaley finished the league strong. We had little hurling done at the start of that campaign but things improved as we were getting players back. We are looking forward to showing improvement from last year when we bowed out at the quarter final stage, losing to Feakle”.
Having lost three of their opening four games, they hit back and finished the campaign in mid table with four wins from nine outings.
In this weekend’s opening game they face last season’s intermediate champions Corofin. “We know what we are going to get off them and we are looking forward to the challenge”, stated Culbert whose backroom team includes former club players Conor McMahon, Eoin O’Malley, Padraig McGough, Kieran Dillon and Kieran Murphy.
Kilmaley go into this weekend’s opening game without a couple of players who were central to their line up in recent years. Cian Moloney is in Australia having moved there last year while former team captain Mikey O’Neill is presently in Canada but may be back for games later in the campaign.
Versatile player Daire Keane continues as captain this year. After playing in attack for much of his career, he has been handed a defensive role in recent times and it remains to be seen where he will line out this week.
Sean O’Loughlin is back in the squad having been out of the country for much of last year and he is expected to fill a forward role. Teenager Joe Casey is another who is in the panel this year having graduated from minor and he is pressing strongly for a place in the starting team for the weekend.
Another of the team’s forwards, Tom O’Rourke is battling a knee injury at present and a final decision as to whether or not he will play a part on Saturday won’t be made until nearer match time.
Kilmihil’s Gearoid O’Grady, who made a big impact last year, isn’t playing hurling or football this season and this is another big loss for both his home club Kilmihil and for Kilmaley.
Since Kilmaley last won this title back in 2004, twenty years ago, they have come close on many occasions but disappointment has been their lot when expectations were high.
Facing into the weekend’s game against Corofin without the likes of Mikey O’Neill, Cian Moloney and Conor Cleary who hasn’t been ruled out but remains extremely doubtful because of the shoulder injury suffered in the All-Ireland final, leaves a number of big gaps to be filled.
Their followers will be looking to the O’Loughoin brothers Bryan and Sean, Tommy Barry, Aaron Moloney, Sean Ronan, Colm Killeen and team skipper Daire Keane to lead the way.
Manager Brian Culbert is happy that the players have put in a big effort and that they are ready to take on Corofin at Clarecastle this Saturday. “We are looking forward to the campaign and I hope that all teams will bring the best out of each other over the next few months”.
Management: Brian Culbert (manager), Conor McMahon (coach), Eoin O’Malley (coach), Padraig McGough (selector), Kieran Dillon (goalkeeping coach), Kieran Murphy (selector) Martin Bennett (S&C)
Captain: Daire Keane
Key Player: Conor Cleary
One to watch: Joe Casey
Fresh Blood: Joe Casey, Sean O’Loughlin
Departures Gate: Mikey O’Neill (emigrated), Cian Moloney (emigrated), Gearoid O’Grady.
Treatment table: Conor Cleary (shoulder); Tom O’Rourke (knee)
Last season’s run: Lost in quarter final to Feakle
Titles Won: 2 (1985, 2004)
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Corofin on Saturday August 10th in Clarecastle at 2pm
Round 2 v Feakle (August 24th/25th)
Round 3 v Cratloe (September 7th/8th)
