Ed Myers could be the difference maker for Muskerry footballers

AS first games go, it wasn’t a bad one for the Muskerry footballers in the 2024 championship last Thursday evening.  

The Mid-Cork division got the better of Avondhu in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC unseeded section. It was win or bust as it was the final of this particular section to determine who moves onto the seeded section semi-final to play either Duhallow, Carbery or UCC.

It was a final due to Beara and Imokilly withdrawing from the championship. There has been a lot of talk on Leeside over the past couple of weeks on this subject but huge credit must go to both teams who slugged it out in Glenville and after an enthralling hour, it was Muskerry who prevailed 3-16 to 3-13.

Muskerry are guided by a joint-management team this year and one of the management gurus is Conor Hurley, who was also a selector last year, was just delighted to see his side get over the line last week.

“It was probably too close for comfort there at the end but definitely a good win,” the Macroom club man said post-match.

“It was a very open game, two teams who were getting together for the first time this year so it made for a free flowing game of football. I think if you were looking for an advert for good scores taken, it was on show here.

“Preparation wasn’t ideal but at the end of the day, the lads are going to prioritise their clubs at the moment, and once they get a chance to play with their division, they are very proud to do so. It’s all about now keeping the group together and improving. We have a few bodies to come back in but today was definitely a good win for Muskerry. Last year, we were on the wrong side of a couple of results, so it’s just great to get the win against a fine Avondhu side.”  

Conceding 3-13 may be something of a concern for the Muskerry management but scoring 3-16 has to be pleasing considering it was their first competitive match of the year. Cork U20 footballer Ed Myers hit 2-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f), but there were also impressive performances from the likes of Daniel O’Donovan and Mark Corrigan in defence with Liam Wall, Liam O’Connor and Daniel Kelly supplementing Myers in the forward area.

“We had a lot of lads making their debuts for Muskerry,” the Muskerry joint-manager said.

“Ed Myers kicked some wonderful scores on what was his first match for the division. If we can keep encouraging young lads like him to come forward, we will be in a good position. It was our first real get together so you have to take it as it is.” 

Muskerry will move onto the next stage of the competition but that won’t be played until the weekend of August 10 so any momentum built up on the back of this win could well be lost when they go into the seeded section semi-final. Two games away from reaching the county championship proper. 

There was no doubt in the effort and the excitement both Muskerry and Avondhu brought to the table last week, but the talk around this particular section of the championship won’t go away.

“I think we had nine clubs represented this evening on the panel, so if you are looking for an advert for players wanting to play for their division, that was it,” Hurley said.

“From our perspective, we want Muskerry to stay going and we hope all clubs in Muskerry do well in their respective first round games in the championship next month.

“All these lads are training hard with their clubs so we will get them whenever we can and we are just glad when we do get them. We realise that clubs are facing into championship on the weekend of July 27.

“We are facing either Duhallow, Carbery or UCC next. I would say we will be rank outsiders so we will just have to prepare the best we can.”