Tough group and dual element factors but Kanturk hurlers aiming high

Last season saw Kanturk make a sharp turnaround on their 2023 campaign, going from the relegation playoff to a premier senior quarter final.

But with Charleville doing the inverse over the same two seasons, it shows how fine the margins are.

The gap between teams at the top grade is miniscule. Just ask Glen Rovers.

Even with that, there are always the few teams that rise to the top.

Barring a shock early exit from the likes of St Finbarr’s in ‘24, Glen Rovers in ‘23 or Midleton the year before – the semi-finalists tend to follow a similar trend.

But what’s to stop a team like Kanturk or Newtownshandrum from challenging that?

“What I find most difficult about it is small clubs that are dual at this level,” manager Tom Walsh begins. “It’s a very high level and very demanding on the players.

“To get out of the group and give us no break, to run us straight into the quarter final of the senior hurling championship was a step too far for us,” he admits. “If we had gotten another week – the result may have been the same, but at least you would have felt you got a good shot at it.

That was the most galling part.

“If we were even playing the same code – it would have been helpful. There are other clubs, Newcestown is another that comes to mind.

“You have small clubs that are playing at a very high level. Blackrock, they’re doubling up with St Michael’s. I think two or three players there you’re talking about.

We had 14.

Even though Kanturk were impacted by the dual element, Walsh feels that 2024 was still a positive season and one that can boost their hopes heading into 2025.

“I think we made good progress, our target was to get out of the group.

“We achieved that, so that was a big step forward and we were delighted with that.

“I felt we were a bit unlucky with the incident with Midleton when the match was called off,” he says. “We had to replay it the week we were meant to have off.

“We didn’t get any break, so we went six weeks in a row. Before we played Blackrock, we had played football the previous week, so that was only a five- or six-day rest.

“That took a lot out of us, and we were flat on the day. With 10 minutes to go you could see it amongst the players, they were exhausted.

“The standard is very high in Cork now, the proof of that is Sars getting to an All-Ireland final. You’re playing as high a standard as any other county, and if you’re a club like Kanturk who play both codes, it’s going to be very difficult and very challenging for us.” 

The north Cork side return with the aim to at the very least match last season’s success, with the addition of former player Alan Sheehy as a selector along with Colm Fitzgerald, brother of Davy – who replaces Donal Cronin as a coach.

They’re facing into a particularly tough group, though.

“I would have thought the Barrs underperformed last year,” Walsh explains. “With the panel of players that they have and fellas that would have won counties underage.

“You’d imagine if things click for them, they’d be one of the teams you have up there.

“The Rockies won it a few years ago and they’re never far off, and we’ve both of them in the group.

“Obviously, if Douglas get their act together there is loads of talent there. We’re just so unlucky to be in a group with all of those, but that’s the way it is, that’s the challenge that’s in front of us.” 

DEBUT DELIGHT

While it doesn’t exactly make their group stage campaign any easier – Alan Walsh’s call up to the Cork senior hurling panel and first start against UCC is a boost to the whole group, even if only marginal.

“It's great, especially with a young player,” he says. “He’s being rewarded for the great year he had.

“We’re delighted with that.

“It sends out a message to the others – there’s a window there if they go out and prove it.”