Jubilant Bandon refocus for Munster
For Bandon, however, the efforts exerted in claiming the Cork JAFC for the first time since 1975 led to something of an anti-climax when they resumed training for a Munster quarter-final with Golden/Kilfeacle of Tipperary a fortnight ago.
“It was hard, I suppose, to refocus after waiting so long to win the football,” says coach Colm Aherne.
“We had been in hurling finals in the last few years but there were no more games after those, it’s difficult to face into a new competition again. We were trying so hard to get out of junior football, it was more relief than celebration, almost. The first half up in Tipp, we were slow, you could see that we were a lot flatter than we had been, but the second half was a lot better.”
After a 0-14 to 0-7 win, Bandon’s attentions turned to Kerry champions Templenoe, whom they meet in Clonakilty at 2pm today.
“You can see a huge difference in the lads since the Golden/Kilfeacle game,” Aherne says. “The training is as good now as it was in the lead-up to the county final and we’ll have to be better because Templenoe are very good.
“I saw them against Glenbeigh/Glencar in the county final, and they were highly impressive. It was over by half-time and they have a very balanced team, no passengers there at all.”
Bandon do at least have the benefit of making the short trip to Clonakilty for the game. “I don’t know if there’s any real ‘home’ advantage,” he says, “but we’re delighted to be playing in West Cork.”
