IAFC: Adrigole 'motivated' to get over semi-final hurdle

Adrigole are back in familiar territory this weekend in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC.

The Beara outfit take on Ilen Rovers at the semi-final stage on Saturday in Bantry at 4pm.

Adrigole have lost to Mitchelstown and Boherbue in the last four in 2023 and ’24. On both occasions, they really should have won but didn’t get over the line.

They will be hoping it will be third time’s the charm this time around. They won their three championship group games to go directly into the semi-finals this year.

“We’re very happy with how the season has gone so far,” Adrigole’s experienced goalkeeper William O’Sullivan says.

“We won Division 5 of the league last year, so we came up this season and we played Division 4 and we finished mid-table. We were very happy with that. In the championship, we defeated Glanworth, St Finbarr’s and Ballinora. It couldn’t have gone any better.

“When we started training back in February, it was a case of just really coming out of the group. We were playing very good sides. We had a very tricky game, of course, against Glanworth and then against the Barrs second team, you’re not sure if they are going to be strong or weak.

“In our final game against Ballinora, we started well and managed to win fairly comfortably. We have improved as the year has gone on. There has been a big drive to do well this year.” 

Adrigole haven’t played championship football in a month. In the meantime, Ilen Rovers were very impressive in their 2-12 to 1-10 quarter-final victory over Mitchelstown nearly two weeks ago.

“For the last couple of weeks since our last game against Ballinora, we’ve trained very good to be fair and it has been all positive,” O’Sullivan said.

“I wouldn’t be worried about the long lay-off. We are prepared and ready for this semi-final. But in fairness to Ilen Rovers, they’re after coming down and I suppose a good few people wouldn’t have fancied them, but we know what they’re like.

“They’re an excellent team and have been building nicely and even the last day, they were good against Mitchelstown.” 

It has been on the record since the start of the year what Adrigole’s target is. That is to get to the county final. They haven’t hidden from that all season.

“There’s absolutely huge motivation for us. There’s extra motivation that if we do get through to the county final, we have a chance to win the trophy named after an Adrigole man, the late John Lock O’Sullivan.

“But look, we’re under no illusions, it’ll be a very tricky game. We know how big this one is. We have been in this position a couple of times in recent years.

“The game will be played on Saturday down in Bantry. There’ll be a big crowd there and we’re looking forward to it.

“We’re looking forward to a good battle against a top side.” O'Sullivan concluded.