Premier JFC: Canovee fuelled by pain of last year's final loss to Kilmurry

Canovee possibly couldn't have wished for a more disappointing ending to the last campaign.

A one-point loss to their local rivals Kilmurry in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final.

The Carrigadrohid-based side also had a number of late chances to either send the game to a replay or even win it.

Recovering from that kind of heart-breaking loss can be challenging especially when Canovee were going for a second successive county title after landing the Junior A crown in 2023.

“Not really, no, we knew there was a good platform there,” Canovee sharpshooter Jack Kelleher replies when asked if it was difficult to get over last year.

“It’s all about building on what you have and just try and get to another final.

“It was our first year up in 2024. It was all positive really when we went back training this year. 

"Obviously it was a bitter pill to swallow, it hurt, but at the same time you can’t wallow too much in your defeats and you just have to build on the positives and keep going from there."

Kieran Cronin was drafted in as the new manager for this year as he replaced John O’Brien.

It has been a challenging one in the sense of injuries. Division 6 promotion was achieved though and then won the league title after a win over St Nick’s.

Canovee are at the semi-final stage in the championship. They will face Buttevant on Saturday in Glantane at 4pm.

“I suppose the new management have brought something different,” Kelleher said.

“There’s probably a bit more forward play as such, especially with the new rules. The new rules came in so the management probably adapted the team a bit more.

“So that’s what they’ve brought as such. The new rules are a breath of fresh air really. There’s far more open space now. Before you had to pick and choose. It’s a bit like playing underage now again.

“There’s more one-on-one battles all over the pitch and you’re more focused on what you’re doing yourself as opposed to what everyone else is doing around you because there’s more space that way.

“I know we in Canovee actually haven’t used the solo and go much, but as in just watching TV and inter-county games, it’s something that speeds up the game a lot.” 

Canovee had to navigate the quarter-final route after finishing second in their group. They easily dispatched Cullen nearly a fortnight ago on a scoreline of 3-16 to 2-8.

Buttevant meanwhile won all three of their group games to go direct to the last four.

Two heavyweights going head-to-head.

“You obviously want to play the top teams in whatever grade you are in. All the talk is around Buttevant this year. I know Kilmurry beat them last year in the semi-final. They will want to go one better.

“Obviously we want to just go out and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully get the win. It will be very difficult though.” Kelleher concluded.