Canovee - a football club to watch out for next season

CANOVEE made it look easy sealing this year’s Junior A Football Championship title against Mayfield, but manager John O’Brien oversaw the work his side have put in behind the scenes to get there.

Under his guidance, the club went unbeaten for the entire championship season, and quick starts have been a feature of that on many occasions – but especially against Mayfield.

“We’ve spoken about it – about getting the quick starts, and we have been the last couple of games there,” John begins. “The lads really set to their task early on. [They] got the scores, set the tone of the game and from there pushed on as well.

“We were up nine points at half time coming in. We knew at that stage really some of it was game management and we just needed to make sure that we kept the lead that we had, and it [the lead] was in a very good position.

“I think in the second half they did that very well as well. Now credit to Mayfield, they came back, and they got the goal, and there were times there that they definitely put it up to us. They’re a good side, I know they're probably disappointed today, but I think our early start probably was the difference.

“I think the lads switched off a small bit [for the Mayfield goal]. We actually had to go in and start shouting at a few of them to get going again!

“Sometimes when you have a lead like that it can be a little bit tricky to keep concentration,” he explains. “I think after that though they played very well. The goal went in, we turned around, we came up the field, we got a goal ourselves again and a couple of points and it just settled us right back down.

We played very good football.

After a dominant run to the county title, Canovee now move up to the Premier Junior ranks, a grade that will certainly give them a shot at back-to-back titles.

ON THE UP

“We're delighted to be going back up, it's Premier Junior now next year.

“I just feel that for the lads, it's nice to get out and play a different opposition in the county, so we'll be looking forward to that.” 

One such club who came to close to winning back-to-back titles were Canovee’s neighbours and rivals – Kilmurry, who fell short in the final against St Finbarr’s.

What would it mean to come up against them next season?

“We know them well, and they know us well and they’re our neighbours. It would be good fun alright if we met. They’re a very good team like us, so I'm sure that everyone would be looking forward to it if it happened.” 

Canovee’s ability to find the net this season has been particularly impressive, and it’s a testament to their playing style.

The mid-Cork side play an attractive brand of football, with plenty of quick passing and sharp off-the-shoulder runs.

“I suppose for us, that's the kind of a style of football that I like, and I think the lads like as well that we play on the front foot and ‘have a go’.

“I always kind of prefer having a go rather than sitting back. Now, at times we're nice and compact as well when we need to be, but we've got some super forwards there – all six of them can score.

“There’re guys coming off the bench that would get on any team. It's just the calibre of the players as well – we're lucky that we've a good crop at the moment.”