Flor O’Driscoll: 'It's straight knockout now' as Ilen Rovers chase qualification
Ilen Rovers lost the IAFC final to Ballinora after a replay last year. Picture: Chani Anderson
Flor O’Driscoll has been around long enough to know that group-stage football is never straightforward, but as Ilen Rovers head for Carrigadrohid on Saturday (3pm), he is more than happy to be entering the final day with their fate still in their own hands.
Beat Buttevant, and they’re through. Anything less, and the season will come to an end.
It’s a winner-takes-all afternoon in Group 1 of the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC, even if the mathematics technically favour Buttevant, who will advance with a draw thanks to a better scoring difference.
For O’Driscoll, that detail doesn’t alter the mindset.
“It’s almost like the group doesn’t matter anymore,” he says.
“It’s a straight knockout. We have to win. We’re in a very, very tough group. Kilmurry are in a great position now, and they’re a really good team.
"Buttevant are a very good team. We knew it was going to be tough. We were braced for everything, and we knew it was going to come down to the last game.”
Buttevant arrive with momentum, pedigree and a growing reputation. Last year’s Premier Junior champions have backed that up with a strong league campaign, climbing to Division 3. O’Driscoll is full of respect for what they bring.
“They’ve huge momentum going behind them,” he said.
“They’ve a lot of experienced players who play for Avondhu, very well represented. In some ways they’re the whole Avondhu team. They’re doing a lot of things well.
“There’s a bit of an unknown factor. We have never played Buttevant before in the championship. It’s hard to know what to expect in some ways. But like most games in these championships, whoever works best on the day is going to get through.”
Ilen’s own season has had its bumps, but O’Driscoll has been encouraged by the consistency of attitude and effort.
Their response to the opening-round defeat to Kilmurry — an impressive win over Glanworth — showed the resilience that has underpinned their year.
“The one thing that’s consistent about the group is the work rate and the effort and the honesty,” he states.
“We’re really happy with that. This year has been a little bit more bumpy with injuries and availability. We probably lost our way a little bit towards the end of the league, but once the attitude is good and the work rate is good, you can overcome those things.”
The hangover from last year’s county final defeat to Ballinora lingered briefly, but O’Driscoll feels the championship has allowed the group to move forward.
“In a way, it’s a distant memory now. Maybe that’s because you’re straight into the season again, you’re not thinking too much about it. But subconsciously, I’d like to think it’s given us a hunger and appetite to get back to the final again if we can.
“Hopefully our experience of getting to the final and playing in it will stand to us the next day against Buttevant in a big game.”
What matters most to O’Driscoll is that Ilen Rovers have control over their own destiny.
“What you want on the last day is to have your outcome in your own hands. And we do. We just have to hopefully take advantage of that.
"But it’ll take a massive effort to beat the quality of Buttevant. We know it’s not going to be easy.”
Group 1: Ilen Rovers v Buttevant, Carrigadrohid; Kilmurry v Glanworth, Ballyanly.
Group 2: Mitchelstown v Dromtarriffe, Ballyclough; Gabriel Rangers v St Finbarr’s, Ballinacarriga.
Group 3: Adrigole v Kildorrery, Brinny; Bandon v Boherbue, Ballingeary.
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