Premier JFC: Joey Hanlon feels Buttevant are better equipped this time for semi-final test

Buttevant manager Joey Hanlon feels his team are better prepared going into their McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC semi-final than 12 months ago.

The Avondhu team lost to the eventual winners Kilmurry at the last four stage last year as they face Canovee tomorrow in Glantane at 4pm.

It has all the makings to be a belter between two top sides.

“After we lost to Kilmurry last season, we set out straight away to get back to the semi-final juncture,” the Buttevant boss says.

“Thankfully we are back here now. We are delighted with that. We felt that we underperformed against Kilmurry in my opinion. We didn’t get things right on the line either if truth was to be told.

“We did have hurling commitments so we didn’t have a full run in to prepare. That’s not an excuse. We are a dual club and are proud of it.

“But we have put down a good block of football training over the last few weeks and we feel we are in a good place, but we won’t know if that is the case until after the game.

“We underestimated the experience that Kilmurry had built up. I believe we are more experienced coming into this semi-final.” 

Buttevant went through the group stage with three wins on the trot to go direct to the last four. Canovee had to navigate the quarter-final juncture, where they easily took care of Cullen on a scoreline of 3-16 to 2-8.

“We know exactly what we are coming up against. Canovee are the favourites. They won the Junior A county title in 2023 and reached the Premier Junior final last year and lost out by a narrow margin to Kilmurry.

“While people might say we are right up there in terms of the favourites for the championship, I think Canovee have been the team to beat from the outset and it remains that way in my opinion.

“I saw them against Cullen. They were excellent, a strong and dynamic side.

“It’s going to be a tough task. We do believe in ourselves and we want to perform on the day. The new rules suit both sets of forwards. We have been building nicely. Ian Ryan, who played for the Limerick footballers, has done great work with our players.

“I am not sure if it will be a shoot-out. I thought that was going to be the case against Kilmurry last year. It will come down to whoever will be more efficient. That will be all over the pitch, not just in front of goals.”