Ambitious Carrigtwohill keen to build on growing underage playing base
Carrigtwohill's David Joseph clears from Kanturk's Cian Clernon during the RedFM SHL Division 1 tie at Kanturk. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
It's all change on and off the field for Carrigtwohill in 2025, with several key changes taking place in recent weeks.
Glasheen native Conor Ahern takes the reins as club chair, following a very busy and industrious stint by Caroline Dixey in the hot seat for the past two years. Denis Walsh is at the helm as senior team manager with Ballincollig native John Dwyer confirmed as coach, taking over from John Griffin, who has moved on to the role of senior manager with his native Kerry.
Deccie Collins is also a senior selector having also been involved last year and for a couple of years with Seanie O'Farrell.
Deccie has been living in Carrig for years and is very active in the club.
For all involved, it's going to be a big year. Surging numbers have seen non-stop activity in the club for the past number of years, as a record number of players have been registered across the age groups. From being classed as a rural club, Carrigtwohill, with now a swelling population has almost moved into the urban category. Adult club membership is almost 400, with juvenile figures in excess of 300.
Administration work has increased dramatically, but Carrigtwohill are lucky to have a dedicated group of people whose heart and soul is in the club they love. Such is the volume of work that running a club of this size demands, that rotation and change are always expected at the top of the table and this year Conor Ahern has taken on the mantle of responsibility to lead the blue and gold following his election at the recent AGM.
"It was never a definite ambition but I suppose I had been involved in so many different roles at all levels including juvenile, camogie, ladies football and club secretary for the past few years that I had an overall grasp of what's required.
"From that, I had an overall understanding of the calendar and what needs to happen. I'm fortunate in that Ruairi Ó Cathain, who is the current Cork ladies football children's welfare officer, has also agreed to become club secretary. We are hoping to build on the work over the past few years when Caroline was at the helm.
"It's a much different challenge to years ago, as overall we have over 12,000 people now living in the Carrigtwohill area. Looking ahead, success on the field of play and ultimately silverware is what we would love to see.
"In junior football last year, we reached the league and championship finals. Cian Rohan is putting a lot of work into football and will be manager again.
On the sidelines, Denis Walsh, a man steeped in the fabric of his club, is now wearing the bainisteoir bib, having been a selector over the past few years. Carrigtowhill survived the drop with a win over Cloyne late last autumn, having contested the 2023 penultimate round, before losing to eventual champions Newcestown.
Walsh has called upon the vastly experienced John Dwyer to oversee coaching duties.
Dwyer tasted semi-final heartbreak as his Ballincollig charges lost successive last-four encounters to Kilworth and Carrigaline in recent seasons. Dwyer is of course well seasoned at inter-county level having coached victorious Cork minor, U21 and U20 teams to provincial glory at the end of the last decade.
Seamus Roche, a great Carrigtwohill servant, who only retired from playing last year, has joined the new-look backroom team as a selector, whilst Steve Mulcahy will look after strength and condition duties. Johnny Ahern and Ted Sullivan are in charge of logistics with Eoin O'Mahony overseeing analysis.
The squad returned to training last week, with the ultimate focus being the three group games against Fermoy, Na Piarsaigh and Killeagh, in what looks like a very competitive group.
Last season Carrigtwohill finished in seventh place in the top flight of the Red FM League, winning three of their nine games. Under their fresh management team, they will be hoping to build up some winning momentum in the early season as the selectors will look to blood some of the younger generation, who have been showing positive signs.
Overall, interesting times ahead for a club that lived the dream when winning the 2011 senior championship against all the odds.
14 years on, who knows what's around the corner for this famous club?
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