Buttevant eager to do well again this year after making history in 2025

Buttevant have made a strong start to 2026 as they look to continue the feel-good factor.

The Avondhu side won the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC title last year in impressive fashion. It was their first county title in 99 years.

Building on that is the challenge now and Buttevant have at least started strongly.

They have three points from their opening two games in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 4 Football League.

One of Buttevant’s key players is forward Conor Hanlon, a former Cork underage footballer. He’s the son of Buttevant manager Joey Hanlon and he knows the importance of building on 2025.

“Everything clicked last year because we came of age really,” Conor says.

“This team has been around the block a few years at this stage. The most important thing really was that we got the best players on the pitch. 

"In years gone by, we would have always had a very strong team and a very strong panel, but a few lads would drop out for various reasons and it would test the panel.

“We put in a lot of work in terms of strength and conditioning last year and it paid dividends. That’s what got us over the line.” 

Buttevant were fancied for a while to be the last team standing. For one reason or another, it didn’t come to fruition until last year. Losing to the eventual winners Kilmurry at the semi-final juncture in 2024 would have been a tough one to take for Buttevant.

“We had a meeting a week after the championship came to an end two years ago and the message was that this isn’t the end of this team,” Hanlon said.

“Kilmurry finished the job and that defeat hurt us without a doubt. People know that because of the amount of times we have mentioned it. We went into that game as favourites.

“We weren’t the better team on the day. We learnt from it and pushed on. We met Canovee in the semi-final last year and we put in our best performance of the season.

“It was a sign of a team maturing. It was a monkey off our back and we then went on to beat St Nick’s in the final.

“If we hadn’t won the county, it would have been a hard sell to go again. The management would have probably parted ways and a lot of lads would have earnt the right to go travelling and enjoy life outside of GAA.” 

Buttevant have always approached the league with the right attitude and the early signs underline that with a win over Macroom and a draw with Glanmire.

“We get a fair bit of stick with how serious we take the league. You could be gone from the championship in under two months, so playing nine league games is very enjoyable.

“We are mad to do well again in both the league and championship. We will give both our best shot.

“After the league, it will be on to the championship. We have a very tough group. We have Glanworth, Kilmurry and Ilen Rovers.

“We have to be ready when the championship gets going.”