'We were ready for it'— Carbery boss reacts to UCC withdrawal and looks ahead to first Premier SFC quarter-final since 2022

Carbery manager Gene O’Donovan admits Thursday morning’s news that UCC had withdrawn from Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Divisional/Colleges preliminary quarter-final in Ovens came as an unwelcome development.

O’Donovan and his selectors had scheduled 20-plus players for a session on Thursday evening at St Oliver Plunkett’s pitch.

Carbery were instead given a walkover and a direct passage into the championship proper for the first time in four seasons.

“I was enjoying a quiet morning and then I got a text — ‘UCC have pulled out.’ My phone was hopping then. We would like to have played,” he says.

“We’re disappointed, to be honest about it.

“It’s tough on UCC. There are so many players going on J1s, travelling, taking the three months off. They’re youngsters — that’s what they’re going to do.

“It’s very hard to get them out now. Colleges struggle more than the divisional teams at this time of year. If we were into September, they’d probably field a very strong team. But the timing is wrong for them.” 

The withdrawal means Carbery advance automatically to the Premier SFC quarter-final, their first since 2022 when they lost to Ballincollig.

“We’re playing the third-best runner-up, whoever that will be,” O’Donovan states.

“It would have been great to play the game. You’d love to get a game before the championship proper. It’s not the same thing playing in-house."

The structure of the calendar had made the weekend a perfect window for Carbery to gather their players.

“The way it’s set up, this was a down week — no hurling or football. That’s why we were able to get the lads on Thursday evening and why the fixture was put in. Obviously, they didn’t look at the calendar of other counties, which affected UCC.” 

Carbery will now try to salvage the weekend by finding a challenge match.

“The selectors are out already trying to arrange a game for Sunday. The clubs released all the lads, fair play to them. We’re looking at this weekend and probably three weeks’ time again before we get together.

“We were in good fettle going into the game. The only big concern was Dara Sheedy. But we had a very fit panel coming in. We waited until Tuesday after the hurling to see where we were, and we were looking good. We had a strong panel to pick from.” 

Carbery now face over a month-long run-in to their quarter-final.

“It’ll be about six weeks. There are two more games left in the group stages. We’ll know after that who we’re playing, and it’s probably a fortnight after again that we’re out.” 

The break does offer one advantage, time to scout.

“We’ll have to get in the cars and start moving, certainly look at the potential teams we’ll play. 

"The mystery of Cork football at the moment — especially after the first round with Nemo and the Barrs being beaten — you don’t know who you’re going to end up with.”