County JAFC: Charleville boss full of praise for Darragh Fitzgibbon ahead of crucial clash

Charleville manager PJ O’Halloran says his team have no fear ahead of the McCarthy Insurance Group County JAFC semi-final this afternoon.

The Avondhu side take on championship favourites Kilmacabea in Páirc Uí Rinn with throw-in at 3pm.

Charleville have defied the odds to reach this stage, which included victories over the holders Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels in their divisional decider before getting the better of Ballygarvan last Saturday.

“We are in uncharted territory,” O’Halloran says.

“We are here on merit though and the players have done very well to get to this juncture of the championship.

“We have decent athletes and a fair share of lads who play top-tier hurling. The players have been very fit this year and that has been key for us. Dominic Foley and James Kennedy involved with the hurlers have done great work with the panel.

“We have a good core of lads, the likes of Conor Buckley, Jack Buckley, Jack Meade, Daniel O’Flynn and more who have played for Charleville for years. 

"We then got a few younger lads to join the panel when the hurling finished just to strengthen the squad. Everyone has really bought into what we are trying to do, if they didn’t, you would be at nothing.” 

Darragh Fitzgibbon is better known as a hurler, but he’s handy at the big ball too. The Cork senior hurler won a county U21 B football championship medal in 2018 with Charleville.

He joined up after the Charleville hurlers finished for the year and has come on in the last two games against Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels and Ballygarvan.

“For Darragh Fitzgibbon, getting involved with the footballers has been a bit of a break for him from hurling,” the Charleville boss said.

“He’s enjoying his football at the moment. He’s a good clubman and he has brought a lot to the table. He’s a great leader for Charleville. When he comes on to the field, he just brings excitement.

“He hasn’t started a game for us this year. He did have a little injury when he joined up with us. Last Friday, he was above in Dublin getting his All-Star award, so it would have been tough for him to start the following day.

“He’s very close to making the first 15, but we have 15 lads that have been here a little bit longer this season than Darragh. I do think it suits him coming off the bench, at the moment anyway.” 

O’Halloran feels the pressure is off his side to a certain extent going into this semi-final encounter. Not many outside of the Charleville bubble predicted them to be at this stage of the championship.

“You would hope the shackles will be off anyway,” he states.

“I don’t know how far we can go. Kilmacabea are probably the favourites for the county. We are under no illusions, it will be a very difficult game.

“We are looking forward to playing in Páirc Uí Rinn. We have played quite a bit of hurling there. There’s nothing to fear really. If we can get ourselves right and play to our potential, we might have a shot at it.

“All of our players have been around a long time. We have a nice mix. They are well able to carry themselves into these situations. Some of the lads have played in county hurling finals and Munster championship games. Darragh Fitzgibbon is a Cork player who has played in all types of games.

“We are excited by the challenge. We will give it a go.”