Knocknagree defender Timmy O'Connor: 'Nothing lasts forever but we'll just keep pushing'

Knocknagree have made a great start to their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League campaign.

The Duhallow side have picked up three points from their first three games — an impressive return considering the difficulty of their opening fixtures.

John Fintan Daly’s charges drew away to St Finbarr’s, lost narrowly at home to Castlehaven and, last Saturday week, edged out home side Clonakilty by a single point.

This is Knocknagree’s first season dining at the top table in both league and championship after doing the double in 2025, winning the Division 2 title and the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC crown.

Timmy O’Connor started at wing-back in the victory over Clonakilty after a spell out through injury. The tough games keep coming, with a home match against Nemo Rangers on Sunday at 10.45am.

“The first four games were and are against four of the best teams in the county, but this is where we want to be,” O’Connor says.

“This is what we’ve worked for over the last 12 years or so — to be playing these top teams. Playing Division 1 football will hopefully send us into the championship well prepared. We know where we’ve come from, we were Junior A football in 2017.

“We’re just trying to make the most of it while we can. Nothing lasts forever, but we’ll cherish this as long as we can and we’ll just keep pushing.

“I wasn’t involved for a few years there, but I suppose when your brothers are there, your cousins and the whole parish is involved, it feels like you are. There’s a great spirit.” 

It’s hard not to mention John Fintan Daly when talking about Knocknagree’s rise. It’s safe to say they were in the doldrums when he took over the team on January 1, 2013. He remains the man at the helm.

What exactly has he brought to the table?

“He’s a great man and we obviously wouldn’t be where we are today without him. We just want to do the best we can for him every day we go out on the pitch. He has a great CV.

“He expects a lot and he seems to get the most out of absolutely everyone that commits to the team. It doesn’t matter if you’re the first man on the team sheet or a man that hasn’t seen minutes in 10 years — if you’re there at all, he expects you to put in the same commitment, and if you don’t, you’re called out on it.

“He sets the standard and we’re all just trying to match it. There’s not much else to say about him — he just has something about him.” 

Despite an encouraging start to the league, Knocknagree have set no targets. They face Clonakilty, Castlehaven and Ballincollig in their McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC group later this year — a tough assignment.

“Look, we’re a team, as you’ve seen over the last few years, that always take the league very seriously,” O’Connor states.

“We have this opinion that you can’t exactly rock up come championship time and turn it on. We treat every game with the same mindset.

“We want to stay at the top for as long as we can and see if we can push on again over the coming years. There are over 30 lads inside in the dressing room — it’s a real family affair. We’re all pretty much related.

“You’re seeing them three times a week on the pitch, you’re seeing them more times off the pitch. You’d nearly be sick of each other. But when it comes to the big days, there’s no question you’ll give everything for the people closest to you.”