‘We’re buying in’: Daniel O’Connell backs Kanturk to push on

Kanturk’s footballers have opened their McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 campaign with a sense of purpose. 

They are near the summit, and inside the camp there is a clear feeling that the group has taken meaningful steps since returning in January.

Daniel O’Connell, one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent seasons, says the season so far has already set a stronger tone than previous years.

Balancing both codes has long been a challenge, but O’Connell believes the group has handled the start of the year quite well.

“We try to balance both of them as best we can,” he says.

“We had our first session back the first week of January, and that time of year is mostly running, getting your fitness right, conditioning. 

"We’ve new S&C coaches in there now as well, and since the start of the season fellas are really buying into the gym work and the proper conditioning.

“We’ve had a lot of collective gym sessions, which helps the group as well. It’s good for bonding, doing the gym work together.

“We enjoy it. That’s why we play hurling and football. And we’re fierce lucky that we’re at high grades in both for the town of Kanturk.” 

The league, for Kanturk, is not simply about results. The club’s numbers have been stretched in recent years, and O’Connell is honest about the impact that injuries and player availability have had on their ability to field consistently strong teams.

“We want to limit as many injuries as we can,” he said.

“We were missing a few for league games last year and we couldn’t fulfil some league games because we didn’t have enough numbers. 

"We’re still down a few bodies now with the lads involved with Cork. All we can do is play with what we have, drive on with that, take it training by training, game by game, and hopefully the injuries will be a bit less this year as it goes on.

“We definitely have 14 players overlapping who play both. The players have been doing it for so long they’re used to working the two codes together.

“But when you have a hurling game at the weekend, it’s mostly hurling that week, and then you transition into football the following week. You try to balance both the best you can.” 

Last season’s narrow championship exit to Knocknagree at the quarter-final stage in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC still lingers in the background, though O’Connell is quick to point out that the group has not spent time dwelling on it. 

Knocknagree went on to win the title. Kanturk also lost to the eventual winners Carrigaline in 2024 in the semi-final and to Newcestown in 2023 at the quarter-final juncture.

“We leave that behind,” he says of the extra-time defeat to Knocknagree last season.

“Last year is last year. We keep looking forward. Maybe down the line when the championship games start we might look back and analyse it, but it’s a new chapter now. You look forward, look at the positives.

“We have a few new players this year that might help us as well.” 

The McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC later in the year will place Kanturk in a demanding group alongside Dohenys, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh and Aghabullogue. O’Connell is under no illusions about the standard required.

“It’ll be a tough group again this year. Every team is going to be tough. You’re going to have no easy game. Aghabullogue are just up this year and they’re a good side.

“The other two teams, we would know a fair bit about them, two seasoned teams at this grade. It’s certainly not going to be easy.”