IAFC final: Dan MacEoin keen for Ilen Rovers to make most of chance 

There’s understandable excitement and a buzz around Ilen Rovers.

Having narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier SFC in 2020, the West Cork club suffered relegation from the top-tier in 2021 before successive demotions in 2023 and ’24.

After a challenging number of campaigns to say the least, tomorrow at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Ilen Rovers face Ballinora in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC final (1.30pm).

It will be Ilen Rovers’ first county final appearance since losing to Nemo Rangers in the top-tier decider in 2007.

Key to the club’s passage into the final has been forward Dan MacEoin. He landed three two-pointers in their stunning 0-24 to 0-22 success over Adrigole after extra time last day out.

He had been plagued by an injury this year and only returned for Ilen Rovers’ second championship group game against Kilmurry in August.

“I was a supporter back in 2007, I can remember it vividly,” MacEoin says on Ilen Rovers’ last county final 18 years ago.

“I came on to the first team in 2010. We were all chomping at the bit because we supported that great team that came through the ranks all those years ago.

“They were great times for the club with a couple of county titles and reaching the senior final against Nemo in 2007. They were role models for us and gave us the motivation to drive on.

“There’s huge anticipation now going into this final. 18 years is a long time ago.” 

Ilen Rovers’ downward spiral was tough for all involved. They have kept the faith though. They haven’t ripped up the script.

“To be honest, winning creates confidence and it’s the opposite when you lose matches,” the forward said.

“We have come through a lot of tight games this year that we wouldn’t have come through over the last few years.

“There hasn’t been much of a change, that’s the funny thing really. Every year you go out and train hard, you put in the effort, you drive down from Cork.

“It’s tougher to do that when you're not getting the results. That’s just a cycle that is hard to break. For a long time, we had plenty of good teams, but the new championship structure is great. If you have a bad year, realistically you're looking at relegation.

“Then if you get things right, you can be in with a shout of winning the championship. For a long time, we were treading water in the old system.

“It was a tough place to be. But there are a great bunch of players that have come through over the last few years. Even though we have had a number of challenging seasons, the dressing room has always stuck together. That has been crucial.

“While we as a group and management are delighted to be where we are now and the fans are buzzing, I am thinking about the people who have made food for us after training for such a long time.

“You can just see the happiness on everyone’s faces in the community with the flags and banners up.” 

Ilen Rovers’ last adult county championship success was in 2003 when they won the old IFC.

It would mean everything to the club if they were to land county glory tomorrow. Ballinora though will be stern opposition.

“We will have to bring our best performance and have a bit of luck to get over the line. Ballinora came back and beat Gabriel Rangers in the quarter-final and were worthy winners over Kilmurry in the semi-final.

“We know that we are in for a very tough game. It’s just about focusing on ourselves and not overthinking things. Hopefully it will be good enough, but I am sure Ballinora will be saying the same thing.

“We have been consistent all year, so it’s all about bringing that into the final.” MacEoin concluded.