IAFC: Great opportunity for finalists after tough recent times

Ilen Rovers need no telling about the power of momentum, where it be upward or downward.

Before 1996, the Baltimore/Church Cross outfit had never won the Carbery JAFC; just over a decade later, they were on the cusp of senior glory.

Having knocked hard at the junior A door with divisional wins in 1999, 2000 and 2001, they finally got over the line with victory over Carrigaline in 2001 and their stay at intermediate level last just years - the 2003 county victory was followed by Munster and All-Ireland glory.

Immediately making a mark in the top flight, they reached the 2007 county final and led in the second half against Nemo Rangers before the city side responded to claim the third of what would prove to be a four-in-a-row.

Ilen did manage a semi-final appearance in 2008, losing to Douglas after a replay, but while they would not make another final, they were an established senior side, their status rarely if ever in doubt.

They made the cut for the 12-team premier senior grade in 2020 but in that first year of the new system they had to beat Bishopstown to stay up and unfortunately fell to Carrigaline in the relegation play-off the following year.

Such is the cut-throat nature of the new set-up that it is very difficult for a team to find their feet after suffering a drop.

Losses to Clyda Rovers and O’Donovan Rossa in their first two senior A games in 2022 put them under pressure before a victory over Newmarket looked to have steadied the ship and earned them third place in their group - but unfortunately the 2023 campaign resulted in three defeats and a relegation play-off loss to Fermoy.

Premier intermediate offered no respite in 2024 as a similar fate was endured and a two-point defeat to Macroom sent them to the intermediate A grade.

It’s understandable that they would have approached the new season with some trepidation but a fourth-placed showing in Division 5 of the league provided a good platform and a win over last year’s beaten finalists Boherbue was followed with a draw over the 2024 Premier JFC winners, Kilmurry.

Ilen’s fate was in their own hands going into the last match and a comfortable win over St Vincent’s sent them through to a quarter-final against Mitchelstown, winning by five points.

A west Cork derby with Beara’s Adrigole was the prize and a classic encounter needed extra time, with 12 points from the inspirational Dan Mac Eoin, including three two-pointers, sent them through to Sunday’s final on a scoreline of 0-24 to 0-22.

Adrian O’Driscoll and Micheál Sheehy have also been to the fore on the scoring front while goalkeeper Damien O’Sullivan brings valuable experience, having been on the panel, as an outfielder, as far back as 2008.

Preceding Ilen’s junior victory of 2001 by four years was Ballinora’s triumph over Kiskeam. They reached the semi-finals in 2004 - losing to another upwardly mobile west Cork club, Carbery Rangers - and were on the right side of the split when the premier intermediate grade was created in 2006.

Until relegation to the IFC in 2018, they soldiered in the second tier. When the restructuring came in 2020, they were placed in the IAFC but, while they reached the quarter-finals in the first year, the following seasons brought frustration and a relegation play-off victory over Glenville was required in 2023.

In 2024, they were unlucky as they won two group games but missed out on qualification on scoring difference - this year, they enjoyed better karma as a win and a draw was sufficient to finish second to Adrigole.

After beating Gabriel Rangers in the quarter-finals, they had 1-2 apiece from Michael Quirke and Mark O’Brien in an impressive 2-17 to 1-16 semi-final triumph over Kilmurry.

For either team, victory on Sunday would mark a superb achievement after recent years of disappointment - the only pity is that just one can claim the John Lock O’Sullivan Cup.