Kilmurry's James O'Mullane ends memorable year with a Muskerry GAA award

This year couldn’t have gone any better for Kilmurry and James O’Mullane.

The Muskerry side claimed the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier JFC title back in October and just over a week ago they got their hands on the Munster trophy. O’Mullane has been a huge player for the team in green and gold this year and he was recognised for his outstanding displays as he was picked as the latest EPH Controls/Muskerry GAA award winner.

O’Mullane, who has three brothers on the panel, John, Joe and Denis, was player of the match in the Cork Premier JFC decider win over rivals Canovee, but it wasn’t a once off, he has been outstanding since the very start of 2024. It’s a real family affair with James’ father Denis part of the management ticket.

The function to pick up his award was held at the Auld Triangle in Macroom recently before a large attendance.

“It’s a great honour to pick up an award after a brilliant year for Kilmurry,” he says.

“To be honest, it could have been any one of the lads on the team so it’s a surprise to get one and it’s also my first time, which makes it probably extra special.

“It has been some year for the club. To get back up to the Intermediate ranks was the ultimate aim so thankfully we achieved that. We actually got off to a shaky enough start in the group stage, scraping over the line twice and then we lost to Canovee in the last group game. 

"That was the turning point as we put our shoulder to the wheel after that and showed what we could do. Beating Canovee in the county final by a point was fairytale stuff. They are a great team and I have no doubt that they will be there or thereabouts next year.

“We are happy out with how the season has gone so far. We are happy out with the last few years to be fair. This didn’t just come together this year. We lost to Aghinagh in the Mid-Cork Junior A quarter-final in 2021 and we just regrouped after that. Cormac [Linehan, manager] came in. 

"Players wanted to play under him and we won the Mid-Cork and county in 2022. Last year was a good one too but we got complacent in the Premier Junior final and lost to St Finbarr’s second team.” 

It could have been very easy for Kilmurry to feel sorry for themselves after such a heartbreaking loss to the Barrs after conceding a last minute goal to lose by a point. They showed character and desire by bouncing back in style in 2024.

“It was a tough one to take and we also lost a few players who went travelling,” O’Mullane said.

“But we have a great group of lads here that just want to win so it wasn’t hard to motivate the players. We are lucky that we have such great management in Cormac, Con Barry-Murphy, Denis O’Mullane, Fr Michael Kelleher and coach David Drummond. They kept believing in us and we all worked very hard and thankfully it paid off for us.” 

Kilmurry will be in the fourth tier of Cork football in 2025. It wouldn't be a surprise if they made a favourable impression in the IAFC. They will face Boherbue, Ilen Rovers and St Vincent's in their group next year. Not easy, but Kilmurry will have no fear. 

“We definitely have the players to compete at the new grade. I do think it will be wide open next year, a lot of even teams. I am looking forward to it. We have some good young players driving us on and keeping the standards high so we have a nice age profile. Hopefully next year we can kick on again.” O'Mullane concluded. 

Kilmurry’s 2024 season will extend into 2025, which is always a sign of a very positive campaign. The Mid-Cork side have an All-Ireland semi-final to look forward to after Christmas on Sunday, January 12 against Naomh Pádraig of Donegal or Tara of London in Parnell Park, Dublin.