Carbery Rangers' boss Seamus Hayes looks upwards after progressive 2023 campaign 

THE 2023 season was one of mixed emotions for Carbery Rangers in what was a transitional campaign for the West Cork club.

Carbery Rangers looked nailed on to suffer demotion from Division 1 of the football league after losing their first four matches, but rallied to pull off the great escape after victory over Cill na Martra in the final league fixture. The Rosscarbery based side brought that feel-good factor from the strong finish to the league into the Premier SFC group stage, and were unbeaten after the first two games after draws with West Cork rivals Castlehaven and Clonakilty.

But, a disappointing six-point defeat to Valley Rovers in the last group stage match ended Carbery Rangers’ season, as they were left to stew over what was just a bad day at the office over the winter. Manager Seamus Hayes, now in his second campaign at the helm, says despite the ending to 2023, it was a positive one for his charges.

“I think when the dust settled, the season was a success as a whole,” says Hayes.

“We blooded an awful lot of younger players throughout the league. It was a new management team, so there was a good bit of change. Everyone might have been finding their feet a little bit, but there was definitely progress made. When you compare the first league match last year against Castlehaven where we got hammered, to what we produced in the championship, there was huge improvement made.

“Ultimately it wasn’t enough, and we are striving to improve further obviously this year and to learn from our performances last year. We have been working hard on the training pitch since the second week in January on things that we have felt might not have worked so well for us last year.” 

Carbery Rangers' tactics have come in for a bit of stick over the last few seasons, especially last year after their low scoring encounter against Clonakilty that finished 0-6 apiece, so what is Hayes’ thoughts on his side's playing style?

“I think to be fair, we have been going through a transitional period,” the Carbery Rangers manager said.

“When you're in that position, you have to be defensively solid before you even think about being more adventurous up top. But, a lot of the games we were playing in, the style was replicated by other teams. We played Castlehaven, the ball was thrown up, and they retreated everyone behind the ball. We saw other teams throughout the championship doing it as well, so I don’t think we are the only club that are guilty of playing defensive.

“I would love to see the old style stuff, where everyone is going out onto the pitch, man on man, and see who comes out on top, but ultimately that’s not happening at the top level. You look at the county finals last year, Cill na Martra and Bantry Blues just went at it in the premier intermediate football final. That was some spectacle. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, it was an epic game. Then the match after, Castlehaven and Nemo in the premier senior football final, we saw what was produced there.” 

In the Premier SFC group stage, Carbery Rangers have been drawn with Clonakilty and reigning champions Castlehaven in what is a very familiar group. First up though, when the time comes around, will be city side St Michael’s.

“The reaction from everyone when the groups were made was like, are you serious? It shouldn’t be happening,” Hayes says.

“Ourselves, Clonakilty and Castlehaven have been involved in pretty much a triangle over the last few years of nearly playing each other every season. But, at the same time that’s the challenges that have been put in front of us. We will be looking forward to those games, don't worry, but the full focus at the moment is on St Michael’s, which will be the first championship fixture.

“We want to be very competitive, which I think we were for most part last year. But, it will be just one game at a time. That’s the way it has to be really.” Hayes concluded.