Donoughmore ready for their biggest day in 42 years: 'Hopefully we can grasp this opportunity'

After years of disappointment and fine margins, it has come together for Donoughmore this season.

They won the Ross Oil Muskerry JAFC title for the first time since 2011 and on Sunday, they chase the biggest one of them all from their point of view.

The team in black and white meet Kilmacabea in the McCarthy Insurance Group County JAFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (3.30pm).

The last three winners of this competition have come from Muskerry. Donoughmore will look to follow in the footsteps of Kilmurry, Canovee and Inniscarra.

“Our team is largely based on the minor team from last year and this year,” Donoughmore manager Liam O’Hanlon says, whose son Seán O'Hanlon plays midfield.

“We finished the Mid-Cork final replay against Aghinagh with ten U21 players on the field. They think that this happens all of the time in terms of winning. They won the premier 2 county at minor level twice beating Castlehaven and St Finbarr’s in those finals.

“They don't know what it is to lose. They haven’t gone through the heartbreak that the rest of us have gone through over the years. The players just take it in their stride. We have a very young group.

“The younger lads have just brought that belief and no fear into the panel this year and it has just come good for us. They don’t have the scars like the rest of us.

“Two years ago, we didn’t even win a game in the championship. The plan at the start of this year was just to get to a Mid-Cork final. But there’s no time like the present and the players have pushed on and this is a great chance to move on to the next level.” 

O’Hanlon is in his first season as the boss of Donoughmore. He's joined on the line by coach Danny Buckley and selectors Barry Cafferkey, Tommy Golden, James Honohan and Ollie Murphy.

“It’s a job that has to be shared, there’s just so much in a year’s football now, we are lucky that we have great people involved,” he said.

“We knew the expertise was there within the club and it was all about putting the shoulder to the wheel. It has paid dividends so far. There are guys involved with me who have the respect of the players. It has been a great help.

“Bringing in Danny Buckley to do the coaching has brought a steeliness and a no nonsense approach that we needed. Danny was a tough cookie as a player with Aghabullogue. He certainly brings that as a coach. He demands certain standards and the players, in fairness to them, have stood up to the mark.” 

It’s a quick turnaround for Donoughmore and Kilmacabea for that matter given the semi-finals were only played last Saturday.

The Muskerry men defeated an understrength Nemo Rangers third team on a scoreline of 3-19 to 0-7.

“We got off to a good start and just drove on from there. There’s massive competition for places to be fair. We have 48 players training every week, it’s hard to get on the starting 15 and even harder to get on the subs bench. That’s the hardest part of this role to tell guys that you have to watch the match from outside the fence.

“It’s a quick turnaround now, all about recovery and getting the bodies right. We are raring for road.” 

Sunday is one of Donoughmore’s biggest days in their history and given the final is being played down the Páirc, it will only add to the occasion.

“Kilmacabea are going to be a different kettle of fish from what we have played this year. They have a very strong team and are very experienced. They have been knocking on this door for a while.

“Hopefully we can show up on the day. It’s 1983 since our last county final appearance. It’s a bigger deal for the older generation, the young lads just take it in their stride. I don’t think we will be overawed by the occasion.

“Hopefully we can grasp this opportunity because they don’t come around too often.”

42 years since their last county championship success, Donoughmore will be hoping to be dancing at the crossroads on Sunday night.