Paul Walsh confident Kanturk can push on this year

Last year was most definitely a case of mixed emotions for the footballers of Kanturk.

The Duhallow side achieved promotion from the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 football league, but fell short in their pursuit of SAFC glory.

Kanturk lost to Carrigaline in the last four after an epic penalty shootout. It was the second year on the bounce that the team in green and white lost to the eventual winners in the lottery of the penalties. They lost to Newcestown in 2023 in the quarter-final.

For Cork senior footballer Paul Walsh, such an integral part of this Kanturk machine, it was a case of so close yet so far last year.

“Winning the Division 3 league was a nice thing to do in 2024,” he said to The Echo at the launch of the 2025 club leagues on Leeside recently.

“It's something we always strive to achieve at the start of every season, do well in the league. If we can put ourselves about in the league, it always gives you a good platform for the championship.

“The championship was disappointing in the end last year. We won the three group games to qualify directly for the semi-final. We wanted that anyway given we are a dual club. It was a big help. To lose on penalties to Carrigaline, it was a tough one to take, but no qualms or anything like that. They beat us on the day.

“We lost the quarter-final in 2023, semi-final last year, so we want to go one step further this year.” 

The vastly experienced Pádraig Kearns stepped down as boss at the end of last season, guiding Kanturk to the PIFC title in 2022 in his latest stint as manager. Former captain Eoghain O’Connor is now at the helm hoping to get another bit extra out of this team.

“We met as a group of players and we are delighted with the new management team,” Walsh says.

“Both Eoghain and the coach Kyrle Holland have worn the Kanturk jersey before. Eoghain captained Kanturk. They have been working hard over the past few months to get a structure in place. Just talking to a few of the lads back home, they are all very happy with how things are going at the minute.

“I have no fears about the new management team. They know the game inside out and the players inside out. They have brought a nice bit of freshness to the thing really. Pádraig Kearns won, I don't know how many counties as manager of Kanturk. He was the mainstay for the last few years. The new boss has big shoes to fill, but no doubt Eoghain can do it.” 

Kanturk are in Division 2 of the McCarthy Insurance Group football league. They suffered a 1-15 to 0-7 loss away to Dohenys first day out last weekend.

The bread and butter is the SAFC though. The team in green and white will face Éire Óg, last year’s PIFC winners Kilshannig and Newmarket in their group stage.

“It’s a very tough league. I am not so sure how it will go,” the 27-year-old states.

“They will be taking it one game at a time and will be doing their very best every time. That’s all you can ask for. It’s all about peaking for the championship. 

"We have Éire Óg first and they will probably be favourites for the championship considering they are just down from Premier Senior. It’s a big game but every game is big. Then we have Kilshannig who are on a high after winning the Premier Intermediate last year and Newmarket will be a local derby. No easy game.” 

Walsh is currently involved with the Cork senior footballers so won’t be with Kanturk until the summer. The Duhallow club are a dual outfit with the hurlers in the top grade of the Cork championship.

Being a dual club can be difficult to manage with the split season so how do Kanturk do it? They have been leading by example for quite some time.

“We don’t know any different at this stage to be honest. It’s something we just take on the chin and just get through it. The league is definitely a challenging time. Numbers at the moment in Kanturk probably aren’t the best. We are recycling the same players. Out of the starting 15, you're talking 10 or 11 players that will be playing 18 weeks on the bounce in the league.

“It’s very tough. A big ask for lads. There will be some days where players mightn’t be at the pitch of it. That’s understandable given fatigue and other things. Fellas have to live their lives too. There’s more to it than just football and hurling.” Walsh concluded.