*Seán Boyce and Gary Cooney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
“SERIOUS RESILIENCE” was shown by O’Callaghans Mills to qualify for the Munster IHC club final for the first time with their manager confident their showings can result in the Fireballs earning some call-ups to the Clare hurling panel.
There was a period in the second half of Sunday’s Munster intermediate hurling championship semi-final when the game “could have gone from us but the team showed serious resilience especially the boys at the back”.
That’s according to O’Callaghans Mills manager Sean Doyle as he reflected on the team’s two point win over Tallow from Waterford in the Provincial semi-final at Mallow on Sunday.
Twelve months on from what was a very disappointing day for the club as they were relegated from senior ranks, the East Clare outfit are now one win away from being crowned Munster champions.
They have gone through the 2025 championship without tasting defeat and on Saturday week Doyle and his backroom team of Patsy O’Donnell, Robbie Madden and Joe Cooney will be hoping to continue that unbeaten run.
Manager Doyle noted the outstanding performance of Conor Cooney at full back, Cormac Murphy at midfield, Jacob Loughnane “who showed fierce leadership up front”, Gary Cooney “who got three great points when needed” and goalkeeper Killian Nugent who scored “two serious points in the closing stages”.
Full back Conor Cooney was a doubtful starter ahead of last week’s game. “Ten minutes before the start on Sunday he wasn’t playing because of the injury but he was outstanding. Aidan O’Gorman our captain and Cormac Murphy have struggled with injury in recent weeks but they put in some performances on Sunday”.
Reflecting on the season Bodyke man Sean paid tribute to his clubmate Patsy O’Donnell “who has been with me a lot of years. We played Clare Cup games early in the season without any of the six forwards we had on Sunday. Look the players have driven this. They wanted to get back up to senior. There is some really good talent coming through and there is some great experience there. The Donnellans, Bryan and Pat wanted to give it another go at playing at the highest level. Bryan has struggled with injury over the past few years. He is showing great leadership in this campaign”.
Looking ahead to the final and their meeting with Tipperary champions Upperchurch-Drombane he said “they are a very good side. It’s not that long ago since they were in a senior final. They are a formidable outfit and I expect it will be nip and tuc”.
Doyle felt their showings will have caught the attention of Clare manager Brian Lohan. “There is a great buzz around the place. It’s great for Clare hurling to have ourselves and Éire Óg preparing for Munster finals. I am sure that Brian (Lohan) might pick one or two from the Mills for the Clare panel. We don’t get many days like this, days to be cherished. There was great support in Mallow on Sunday and hopefully this will again be the case on Saturday week”.
Concluding Sean said “all focus is on Saturday week. Hopefully all panel members will be fit and well and we will give it our best shot”.
