Clougduv grabbed their chance by following up junior breakthrough with Munster silverware

CLOUGHDUV have had many heroes over the past number of months as they claimed the Cork County JHC crown to add to their Mid Cork title.

Last Sunday in Mallow they added the Christmas icing to the cake after claiming the Munster Club Championship and one of their young stars, midfielder Mark Walsh was thrilled to have been part of it.

“This was just incredible, two years ago in Mid Cork we got beaten by Ballinora in the second round, that was a very low point.

“We got knocked out in the first round of the county last year, maybe a bit too cocky and now to come back and win it and win the Munster title today is unbelievable.

“My older brother there, Kevin Walsh came on near the end and this is his second Munster title after having won one with Canovee footballers a good few years ago.

“Fair play to the backs, they cleared some ball there, they hit the crossbar, maybe the scoreline could have been a bit closer but the lads defended there so well.’’

Now there’s an All-Ireland series to look forward to in the new year and everybody in Cloughduv will look forward to that.

“That is something to really look forward, trying to get ourselves into Croke Park for an All-Ireland final.

“But there’s an U21 game on Wednesday night and there’s seven of us involved in that against Fermoy. Some of the older lads can celebrate away but we’ll have plenty of time to celebrate this win.

“We will be playing Dunammagin in the All-Ireland semi-final and we saw how well they did on Saturday.

“Everything is a bonus after winning the county, that was the big thing for us but you want to keep it going as long as you can.

“It’s great for the older lads in the club. My father Frank, the last time Cloughduv won a county he was playing and some of them were in tears after the county final.

“It’s exciting them more, it’s everything we talk about in the parish and the hype is something else. The winter here is going to be short.’’

Team captain Mark Verling was delighted too with the outcome.

“I was doubtful but got the leg strapped up on Thursday and it was fine, I came through it anyway.

“It’s a special day for the club, it’s great being part of it and creating a bit of history for Cloughduv.

“All along the goal is to win the Mid Cork and then the county but when you find yourself in the position that we were in today you must try and make the most of it and we did that.

“It was a game of two halves there, the wind was so strong in the first half so we had to work extra hard.

“We were happy to be in front at half-time but we said we’d start again at nil all and try and get the early scores because the wind won’t win a game for you.

“We did that and took it on from there. They needed goals and once we didn’t leak any we always had that cushion.’’