Denis Reen departs Kilshannig after successful time in charge: 'There's another county in this team'

Denis Reen’s successful tenure in charge of Kilshannig has come to an end.

The Rathmore native guided the club to the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC title last year after a replay win over Aghabullogue in the final.

The Glantane-based outfit consolidated at Senior A level this year even if they didn’t qualify out of their respective group.

“It was a brilliant two seasons in charge,” Reen said to The Echo.

“We as a management group were given a task before the 2024 campaign and it was very blunt. When Kilshannig brought us in, it was a case of the county was there to be won, go out and win it.

“Reaching a semi-final wasn’t going to be good enough. There was an excellent group of players inside in the dressing room. They were very driven.

“The plan was only to stay around for a year. I go to clubs for a season and then you see how things are going. Your voice only goes so far as well.

“You don’t want to overstay your welcome either. The last thing you want is to fall out with players or fall out with the club. I knew my time was up with Kilshannig this year anyway regardless of how results went.

“There was no point leaving on a sour note, we had done so well and the respect on both sides has been fantastic. I decided that the players deserved a fresh voice.

“It’s not that I think Kilshannig can’t go any further. They certainly can and there’s seriously good talent within the four walls of the dressing room. There’s definitely another county in this team.” 

Reen took over a side that had lost to Bantry Blues in the last four in 2023. It wasn’t going to take much to get over the line and they showed their class and composure to win the county.

It was Reen’s second championship success in Cork having guided Kiskeam also to the PIFC title in 2016.

“My main aim at the start when I came in was to build a panel,” he says. 

“And by the end of 2024, we certainly needed every single player. It took everything to get over Aghabullogue in the final after a replay. We used around 20 players in every league and championship game.

“I have no problem upsetting players as the more you upset them, the more bite and drive they are going to get.

“Winning the championship meant so much to the club. It was a magical few days. I love going down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it’s a super stadium and there was a lot of emotion. It was something the club had strived for.” 

While there were a lot of ups in 2024 for Kilshannig in what was a year to remember, there were also downs.

“On a personal level, I lost a good friend of mine back home in Rathmore last year,” the former Kilshannig manager said.

“It was due to certain circumstances and I was very close to him. It was a tough time. That’s why I looked up to the sky when we did win the county. That was for him.

“Then a few weeks later, James O’Hanlon suffered serious injuries following a car accident. During my time with the club, he was probably the most popular player in the dressing room. I will never forget Colm O’Shea coming over to me in the field and telling me what happened.

“We as a group stuck together like a family, it brought us closer and closer. James has made a massive recovery and that’s more important than football.” 

Kilshannig finished bottom of their respective McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC group this year with two points, behind Éire Óg, Kanturk and Newmarket. 

It was a case of fine margins for the Avondhu side. Had they beaten Éire Óg in the final group game, they would have been through.

“People have said that results didn’t go our way this season, it’s a fine line,” Reen states.

“When you go up to Senior A, you have to be ruthless in every opportunity you get, especially when it comes to scoring. Unfortunately, our stats were very low when it came to conversion this year.

“We did beat Newmarket in the first group game. It was Kilshannig’s first game in the senior ranks in over 30 years. Then we lost to Kanturk and Éire Óg. In both of those games, we created so many goal opportunities, but we didn’t make the most of them.

“It was still a positive season, we avoided the relegation play-off. I am sure the lads will kick on in 2026.”