SAFC final: Defeat to Dohenys last year was a turning point for Cill na Martra

Cill na Martra selector Seán Kelleher feels the loss to Dohenys last year has proved to be a turning point.

The Muskerry side lost by six points at the quarter-final stage of the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC.

It was a game against one of the top teams in the grade and Cill na Martra fell well short. 13 months on, they take on Knocknagree in the final on Sunday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (1.30pm).

“I suppose getting to the final this year has been a result of two years of hard work under a new management,” Kelleher says.

“In terms of physically and tactically, we knew those things had to be improved this year and with the new rules also new for this season, we went back early and got down to work. We went back doing our gym work as we knew we were a bit off the top teams in the grade.

“We have really knuckled down to get to the level that is required. The loss to Dohenys last year was an eye-opener for us. The intensity that they brought that night, we just couldn’t match it.” 

Cill na Martra and Knocknagree have a lot in common coming into Sunday’s final. Both have climbed up the ladder in impressive fashion. Both looking to reach the top-tier of the Cork football championship for the first time.

Cill na Martra won the old IFC in 2018 before claiming the PIFC title two years ago.

“Ourselves and Knocknagree are both small rural parishes, the population wouldn’t be massive,” Kelleher states.

“We have had to bide our time I suppose to get to this point. Knocknagree have done it quicker than us. We have just a brilliant crop of players and it has just all come together for us over the past number of years.

“A big thing for us would be to have buy-in and for everyone to train together. It doesn’t matter if you're trying to get on the first team or the second team, everyone trains together. We would have nearly 40 lads below in the field.

“That has been a consistent thing for us over the last while. That was in place when Kevin O’Sullivan was training us and it worked when we won the lower Intermediate in 2018. It helps us along the way.” 

Cill na Martra have improved since their first championship group game back in July which was against this weekend's opponents.

Morgan O’Sullivan’s team had a 12-point lead at one stage, but were three points down late on before clawing themselves back for a draw. It was a cracking game and if Sunday is anything like that, the supporters and neutrals will be in for a treat.

“It’s a cliché but the previous game against Knocknagree was a game of two halves. In a way, it’s kind of fitting that ourselves and Knocknagree are in the final. Two good teams.

“You can make what you want out of pressure. At the start of the year, we had our own goals. We wanted to maintain our Division 1 status and then in the championship, get further than we did last year.

“I get the sense that the lads are looking forward to the final. There’s excitement and hopefully we can show what we can do. It’s great to be in this position, in the last hour of moving up.

“The final is likely to go down to the wire, it will come down to whichever team can control the game for as long as possible will win.” Kelleher concluded.