SAFC: O'Dwyer proud as Dohenys show resolve

Declan O’Dwyer admits that he doesn’t know what the immediate future holds for him and Dohenys, but he was proud of how his players bounced back to sign off their season with a win.

A two-point loss to Bishopstown and a three-point defeat against Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh meant that the Dunmanway side made the short trip to Drimoleague for Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC clash with O’Donovan Rossa knowing that they couldn’t qualify, but a win was still required to avoid finishing bottom of their group.

That was achieved, with a 1-13 to 0-11 victory meaning that their Skibbereen opponents must take on Fermoy on Saturday week with survival on the line.

After a wind-assisted first half, Dohenys led by 1-8 to 0-2, but in the second half they found the lead being eroded, bit by bit. Ultimately, they held out before tacking on late scores, to O’Dwyer’s delight.

“To be fair, there was big questions being asked about seven, eight minutes ago,” he said.

“We knew, we played them in the league and they got four two-pointers in a row in the second half, and we knew they were capable of kicking them, so we were just getting nervy there, but in all fairness, we had subs that came on and made a difference.

“They genuinely are a great bunch. The Ballingeary game, when you actually review it and watch it back, you're not far off – two mistakes for two goals, and all of a sudden it's gone from you.”

When the team and management gathered in a huddle after the game, Dohenys captain Keith White left no doubt as to the regard in which O’Dwyer is held by the players – and little wonder, given that his five years in charge have seen them regularly contend for honours, including a county final appearance in 2023, when they lost to Newcestown.

O’Dwyer knows that there is the potential for the group to build further, though, with a busy career as a member of An Garda Síochána and a young family, nobody would begrudge him the down-time.

“Ah, maybe for the team alright,” he said, “they're still a very young team.

“I'm with them now five years, and to be fair, Keith was saying it there, tongue-in-cheek like, they get sick of hearing me and sick of listening to me but you wouldn't do it unless you enjoyed doing it.

“I’m always around the club and I went straight from playing to managing. A change might be needed with the lads as well, but, look, we’ll see.”