Darragh Cashman confident Millstreet can kick on after years of frustration 

While it was a season to forget for Millstreet, there was a happy ending to the story.

The Duhallow club defeated rivals Ballydesmond in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC relegation play-off to avoid dropping back down to the Junior A ranks. A place they haven’t been since winning that championship in 2014.

For one of Millstreet's main players and a well-known figure on Leeside, Darragh Cashman, it was a frustrating year for the club.

“When we look back on the campaign, we didn’t get the results that we aimed for at the start of the year,” Cashman says, who is a Cork senior footballer.

“We have a very young team. I feel like we’re going through a transition period at the moment. A lot of players have moved on and more experienced players have been travelling and stuff like that. To get the win over Ballydesmond was massive.

“We’ll learn from it for next year. You look at St Nick’s. Last year they were in the relegation final and got to the county final this season. Why can’t that be us next year if we learn from this year and drive on? There’s no reason why it can’t be us.” 

This year was the third campaign of the Premier JFC. Reaching the quarter-final juncture in 2023 proved to be a false dawn for Millstreet. They have struggled since.

“The main goal at the start of this season was to get out of the group,” the defender said.

“We feel like we didn’t perform at the level that we are capable of. We would be disappointed with the last couple of seasons.

“The pressure has been on us especially this year. That Ballydesmond game, there was so much on the line.

“Dropping back down to Junior A could have put the club way back especially when we’re such a young group. We showed character and a fighting spirit to survive. I do think we can make progress in 2026.” 

Cashman was 11 years of age when Millstreet ended 51 years of hurt for a county football championship title in 2014 after a memorable victory over St Finbarr’s second team.

“I’ll never forget that day. I can remember it well, a great win. I was actually playing at half-time.

“At the end of the day, we want to bring silverware back to Millstreet. Everyone knows the history of the club. We have the potential to do something great.

“We just need to tweak a few things and just learn from the disappointments and drive on. That’s all you can do really."

Cashman has played in Croke Park and won an All-Ireland with the Cork minor footballers in 2019. He won a Munster medal with the Cork U20 side two years later and has featured for John Cleary’s senior team.

How does the recently turned 23-year-old look at both teams when it comes to pressure?

“A lot of people have asked that question, there’s no real difference really.

“Two different groups, there’s an unbelievable group with Millstreet and an unbelievable group with Cork. We’re going out playing our football. We’re as professional with Millstreet as we are with Cork.

“Again, with Millstreet, we’re just disappointed with results and stuff like that. The pressure is like, when I go out every day, I just want to go out and enjoy my football. There’s not really that much of a pressure.” Cashman concluded.