O'Donovan Rossa have talent but making a mark at Senior A isn't straightforward

Rossmore is the venue for Sunday week’s West Cork senior A football championship derby between Dohenys and O’Donovan Rossa. Whilst Dohenys will begin as favourites, this local skirmish represents another important date in the Skibbereen club’s history.

It is 31 years since the famous red jersey of O’Donovan Rossa celebrated a 1-7 to 0-8 All-Ireland senior club football final replay victory over Éire Óg from Carlow at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

That was a golden period for the West Cork and Beara regions as Rossa’s, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Bantry Blues, along with the Beara and Carbery divisions, each hoisted the Andy Scannell during a dominant decade.

Since then, O’Donovan Rossa has struggled to replicate the successful Mick McCarthy (RIP), Tony Davis and Don Davis-led era, especially in recent times.

Graded in the newly introduced senior A football championship back in 2020, Rossa’s fell to eventual champions Éire Óg in the penultimate round.

The following year proved a bitter disappointment. The Skibbereen club drew with Bandon but lost to Dohenys and Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh in the group stages. A better scoring difference compared to Bishopstown and Bantry Blues (relegated) helped Rossas narrowly avoid a relegation play-off.

2022 saw O’Donovan Rossa rebound and qualify for the SAFC quarter-finals. West Cork neighbours Dohenys were overcome 0-13 to 0-8 thanks to six Kevin Davis points at a packed Wolfe Tone Park in Bantry. Alas, for the second time in three years, O’Donovan Rossa fell at the second-last hurdle. St Michael’s 10-point semi-final victory helped propel the Seandún club to senior A glory.

There was plenty to admire in Rossa’s upturn in form. Contrastingly, there was little solace in losing to another senior A champion and being within touching distance of a county final appearance.

NEW LOOK

Undeterred, a new-look Rossa’s, complete with youthful newcomers from their U20 ranks, began last year’s county championship with renewed optimism.

Superb group victories over Knocknagree and Fermoy sandwiched a three-point loss to Kanturk. Finishing level on points with the latter and Knocknagree, Rossa’s agonisingly missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages due to points scored difference. It was Kanturk, having scored five more points (59) compared to the West Cork club’s total (54) who progressed.

Another year, another unfulfilled senior A championship odyssey and another case of what might have been for the proud Carbery club.

It wasn’t all bad news for gaelic football in Skibbereen as O’Donovan Rossa’s ladies football team claimed 2023 Cork, Munster and All-Ireland LGFA titles. So, 2024 began with the club’s men’s adult panel looking to emulate their female counterparts’ county success.

O’Donovan Rossa suffered a huge setback before a ball was kicked however, with former Cork senior Donal Óg Hodnett was ruled out after suffering a second cruciate ligament injury. Manager Gene O’Donovan also lost the services of midfielder Jamie Shanahan to injury.

Against that backdrop, Rossa’s did brilliantly to shake off Hodnett and Shanahan’s enforced absences, defeating Fermoy 1-14 to 0-16 in their senior A group opener. Kevin Davis, Thomás Hegarty and David Shannon were on target as a revitalised Rossa’s prepared for another showdown with Kanturk.

“It couldn’t have gone worse,” was Gene O’Donovan’s apt description of his side’s 17-point, 3-16 to 0-8, capitulation to the Duhallow club four weeks ago. The Skibbereen side never got going against a rampant opponent and could only manage a solitary point from open play.

The caveat following such a forgettable performance is that O’Donovan Rossa have had a month to prepare for Sunday’s derby with last year’s senior A championship runners-up.

An already qualified Kanturk, on maximum points, is expected to overcome Fermoy. So, the winners of Sunday’s O’Donovan Rossa and Dohenys clash will join the Duhallow side in the knockout stages. A draw would be enough to see Dohenys through thanks to their superior scoring difference.

West Cork derbies rarely need building-up and the old cliché of form going out the window can be applied to Rossa’s and Dohenys matchup. It will be crucial Gene O’Donovan’s panel tap into the positives from their Fermoy victory rather than dwelling on what went wrong on a day to forget against Kanturk.

Win and O’Donovan Rossa enter the knockout stages as a dangerous opponent. Lose and it will be another year of what ifs for a West Cork club craving the consistency that delivered past county, Munster and All-Ireland glories.