Cobh manager Declan O'Connell aiming for Premier Junior title in 2024

THE standard of Gaelic football in Cobh has risen over the last number of years, and in 2022 they got their reward for it.

The club won the East Cork Junior A title for the ninth time, and secured promotion to the Premier Junior grade as a result of their win. Manager Declan O’Connell, who’s been in the job since 2019, talks through their journey up the ranks.

“2022 our aim was definitely to win his east Cork and even at that point, you knew you were you were coming up,” Declan begins. “We lost the county final in 2022 to a decent Kilmurry team. Coming into 2023 then, we would have had a decent league campaign.

POSITIVE STEPS

“We only lost one game as such, we’d a couple of draws and that probably stopped us getting into a league final. We were beaten by Buttevant, who were league champions.

“I suppose we got a small bit of our own back in championship, beating them by a point above in Killavullen, which was a make-or-break game actually as it turned out. We had lost our first game to the Barrs by a point in Caherlag.

“We all saw it as do or die, and in fairness the players brought in got that win, set us up for the Michael’s game,” he says. “It wasn't an easy group St. Michael’s and Barrs – two strong second teams, and Buttevant. There was nothing easy there.

“So, to get out of the group, we were very happy with ourselves in terms of how we were progressing. We got the win then against Cullen and then on to Kilmurry again and didn't get over the line.

“Closer this time, just two points, probably the width of a post in injury time, hit the crossbar hit the post, but that’s sport. [We] had to lick the wounds after that.” 

While Cobh will no doubt be frustrated at their failure to overcome Kilmurry once again, they’ll have a third chance in 2024 after being drawn in the same group.

“Our average age is still quite young. The backbone of that team was out playing east Cork U21 championships in the last couple of weeks, so there's a fair bit to be taken from that, in what is a massively competitive grade and there's nothing between the teams.

“You see Canovee coming up there now out of the Junior A, up into Premier Junior next year, they’re another serious pedigree team from Muskerry.

It's not getting any easier in the Premier Junior grade. 

"It's been a fierce grade altogether, with fierce battles and nothing between most teams on any given day, especially in championship.

“We just feel we have the right mix,” O’Connell says. “If we can keep lads – look I know there’ll always be fellas travelling with college etc, but you just have to roll with it.” With the league campaign on the horizon, O’Connell explains how his side are going to prepare for their Division 6 campaign.

“We always try and go out as strong as possible, try to get fellas game time,” he explains. “It's a difficult mix sometimes. Some fellas may be finishing up playing other sports, exams – there’s always college exams, and so there's a fair few factors to consider.

“We do try and try and treat it very seriously. It's where you learn, it's where you learn about players, their capabilities, how they respond under pressure.

Things that you can use in championship later on in the summer. 

After making it the semi-final this year, will Cobh be aiming to go all the way in 2024?

“Yeah look, there's no doubt about it,” Declan responds. “Taking part and competing is crucial, but we're here to try and win this competition.

“We're not here to take part anymore. We've had our losses. We've had our learnings. We think we have the right mix of ingredients to be successful, after that you can aim and hope all you want, but if it doesn't go right for you on the day, it doesn't go right – but you hope that the performance will take care of the results.”