Clonakilty footballers must find a way to win tight matches to get back in Premier SFC mix

Clonakilty must develop a killer instinct to win close games ahead of Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Group 2 must-win clash with St Michael’s.

Let’s wind the clock back to last July.

There were less than 10 minutes remaining of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 2 county football league decider at a rain-lashed Ballygarvan.

Brian White had just converted his fourth free of the evening to push the West Cork club four points clear. Despite the rain, Clonakilty looked home and dry.

Not quite, as an understrength St Michael’s rolled up their sleeves with consecutive Billy Cain, Keith Hegarty and Luke O’Herlihy (free) scores leaving the bare minimum in it.

Suddenly, all the momentum swung towards the Dazzlers as they laid siege on Clonakilty’s goal. Only a goal-line block by Cork inter-county defender Tom Clancy prevented Luke O’Herlihy from netting an injury-time winner.

The resulting 45 saw Tadhg Deasy convert and send the league final to extra-time. There, Clonakilty eventually edged the result 1-15 to 1-14 but only after the most stringent of tests.

Bottom line, this was a final Clon was four points ahead and in control of, only to capitulate with the end in sight. True, they got over the line in the end but it shouldn’t have come to that.

Let’s wind the clock forward to August 18th and Sam Maguire Park in Dunmanway.

Clon are coming off a Premier SFC opening round loss to Castlehaven and facing into yet another West Cork derby against their oldest rivals.

Carbery Rangers were trailing by three points but hanging in there when the Brewery Town was awarded a second-half penalty. Darragh Gough’s bullet flew into the net and a dominant Clonakilty led 1-8 to 0-5, odds-on to claim a first win over Rangers in since 2006.

Inexplicably, and for whatever reasons, instead of going for the jugular, Clonakilty began to retreat and invite their opponents onto them. Big mistake. Carbery Rangers, inspired by Cork senior John O’Rourke, reeled off seven late points to earn a draw from the jaws of defeat, 1-9 to 0-12.

In truth, Carbery could have won it had Darragh Hayes’ late equaliser zoomed a couple of inches over rather than under the crossbar.

Another opportunity spurned by Clonakilty but also a recurring theme having come up short in so many recent big games.

In 2021, the Brewery Town contested a first Premier SFC county final in 12 years only to lose by a single point to St Finbarr’s. Bandon’s Charlie Hurley Park was the venue for 2022’s 0-8 to 0-7 group loss to Nemo Rangers, a result that prevented the West Cork club from progressing to the knockout stages.

Last year, same venue, same opponent, but also horrendous stormy weather conditions in which Clon lost out once again, 0-5 to 0-4.

Now, on Sunday, it is back to Charlie Hurley Park. Bandon plays host to Clon’s concluding Premier SFC Group 2 clash with St Michael’s. Safe to say that this encounter represents another sliding doors moment.

No one is questioning the fact Clonakilty senior’s panel is laden with talent. Yet their struggles to develop the killer instinct of a Castlehaven, St Finbarr’s or Nemo Rangers, required to close out big games, will be under the microscope in Bandon this weekend.

QUALITY

Any team in the country would welcome the talents of the three Whites, Mark, Seán and Brian White. Add to that Cork seniors Tom Clancy, Maurice Shanley and David Lowney. Newcomers Simon Murphy, Griffin Wharton, plus the emergence of Dan Peet, Chris Kenneally, Aaron Cullinane, Darragh Gough and Conor Daly has only added to the depth of quality within the Brewery Town’s senior setup.

Martin O’Brien has done an admirable job since taking over the managerial responsibilities from Haulie O’Neill. Returning Clonakilty to Division 1 was essential. O’Brien and his backroom team have achieved that goal.

Yet, this is a Clonakilty senior football panel that wants to contend for the Andy Scannell. Making that breakthrough and contending for Premier SFC requires killing off opponents and winning tight games.

Sunday’s result against St Michael’s will determine whether the West Cork club qualifies for the knockout stages or faces a potential relegation play-off. Time for Clonakilty to step up.