Canovee's new boss looking to continue his side's upward trajectory 

Canovee couldn’t have been much closer to achieving back-to-back county titles last year.

The Muskerry side won the Ross Oil Mid-Cork JAFC title in 2023 before then going on to collect the county crown, but a second successive elevation slipped through their fingers. Canovee lost to their local rivals Kilmurry by a single point in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final.

A few late chances including a great goal opportunity came to nothing. The team in black and amber will be fancied to go deep into the championship again and for the 2025 campaign, they will be under the guidance of Kieran Cronin. The latter was previously in charge of the club in 2018 and ’19.

The St Michael’s Foilmore man, who managed his club to back-to-back South Kerry senior titles in his 20s, before having stints with Macroom and Legion, was part of Jack O’Connor’s Kerry U21 (now U20) set-up.

Cronin was also previously a selector with the Cork U20 football team under Bobbie O’Dwyer and was part of the Aghabullogue management team that helped their side win the Cork IAFC in 2023.

“It was an easy decision to return given I know the club and have been involved with them before,” the Kerry man said.

“Canovee are very passionate about their football and have a rich tradition. There are All-Ireland winners in the club. There’s actually two still playing in Denis O’Sullivan and Paul Healy. Football is a huge part of the community here going back many years.

“I have nieces and nephews playing underage with Canovee, so there’s that connection, which can be important. There’s a very good squad of ambitious and talented players that have been on an upward trajectory for the last few years. There's huge potential to push on.

“Iveleary beat Canovee in the 2018 Mid-Cork final at Junior A level when I was manager of Canovee. You look at where Iveleary find themselves now, very close to becoming a senior team. Our squad are motivated to keep progressing.” 

After coming so close to winning what would have been an historic second county on the bounce last year, Canovee will be hoping to replicate Kilmurry, after they lost the 2023 final before obviously going one better the following year.

“The aim is to build on the progress that has been made,” Cronin says.

“John O’Brien was in charge of the team for a number of years. He has done great work, so there’s a good foundation there. The first thing as a new manager you want to do is to try and maximise the potential of the squad and raise the standards and get the team working hard and being honest. You're trying to bed in a style of play too.

“It’s going to take time to establish a culture and a philosophy, but you would be hoping after a period of time that we will have something to show for our work. Patience is needed here.” 

Canovee are in Division 6 of the McCarthy Insurance Group football league, as Cronin’s first competitive game back at the helm will be away to Na Piarsaigh this Sunday at 11.30am.

“We have dual players with Cloughduv,” the Canovee boss said.

“With the structures in Cork, lads will be on the go for 18 weeks between football and hurling. That's a big ask. No way a dual player can do that. It’s a recipe for injuries and overloading them. We will have to rotate in the league with a lot of games. We will be using our squad, but also giving the league the full respect. We want to do well in Division 6.” 

Later in the summer, Canovee will start their championship adventure, a journey they hope that will end in county glory. In their group stage, they will meet Urhan, Ballydesmond and St Nick’s.

“All we are looking at in that sense is the first game, which is against Urhan. Last year, there was only a kick of a ball in it when Canovee met Urhan. Yes, we want to have a strong championship when it comes around, but we won’t be looking beyond that opening one. It’s important you get off to a good start.”