Buttevant footballers 'ready' for Munster opener in Waterford 

Buttevant manager Joey Hanlon is confident his players are ready for a new journey this weekend.

The Avondhu outfit take on Waterford side Shamrocks in the AIB Munster Club JFC quarter-final tomorrow at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan (1.30pm).

Buttevant won the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC 13 days ago after an eight-point win over St Nick’s.

It ended 99 years without an adult county football championship title for the club.

“We went back training last Thursday night after winning the county, the lads were mad to go again,” Hanlon says.

“We celebrated for a few days, everyone really enjoyed themselves. To be fair, the lads were delighted to meet up on the training ground and they are all fit and healthy, thank God.

“It’s great that it’s a quick turnaround. If you had a four or five-week break, it would be hard to get the momentum back up again. The lads are in great spirits to be honest."

Buttevant will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Kilmurry after the Muskerry side claimed Munster glory last season at Junior level.

“We are taking the Munster series very seriously,” the Buttevant boss said.

“We were only chatting about it at training the other day, to represent Cork in Munster is an honour. We would have to win back-to-back counties to get back to the Munster series. That’s a phenomenal task.

“We really want to take this opportunity with both hands and embrace the challenge. It will be a great day for the club. We will have a big crowd following us down to Waterford. The support we have received all year has been fabulous.” 

Hanlon and his players certainly aren’t underestimating their opponents tomorrow in the shape of Shamrocks.

“We have a little bit of information on Shamrocks. They are a physical side. I think they have a couple of Waterford panellists on the team. We will respect them. Our job is to improve on the county final performance, that’s our target. I do mean that.

“It’s important we focus on ourselves. Yes, you have to look at the opposition, but you are going into the unknown. Traditionally, Cork teams would come out on top against Waterford teams, but there can be serious teams on occasions from Waterford that cause problems.

“They love their football in Waterford. There are patches in the county that are just as passionate about football as we are here in Cork. We have to be very careful and expect a battle. That’s the way we are approaching it.” Hanlon ended.