O'Connor: 'We’re delighted to be playing the football we want to play'

Éanna O’Connor added to his Kildare SFC medal from 2018 with Moorefield as Milltown/Castlemaine captured the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship title in a gripping final.

FAMILY DAY OUT: Éanna and Cian O'Connor, of Milltown-Castlemaine with father and Kerry Senior football manager Jack O'Connor and mother Bridie and Éanna O'Connor. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Midway through the first half in Tralee, Milltown/Castlemaine were awarded a free just inside the 65-metre line. 

Éanna O'Connor took one moment to clean his boots and then floated over a terrific point. That precise sharpshooting saw him finish with 0-8 and Man of the Match.

O’Connor added to his Kildare SFC medal from 2018 with Moorefield as Milltown/Castlemaine captured the Kerry Intermediate Football Championship title in a gripping final.

They led by one at the break despite playing with a strong wind. Twice Fossa pulled in front, twice Brendan Casey hit back with a goal.

“The wind was a big factor. Before the game with the wind that strong you’d be hoping to go in by more than one point, but we dug in. 

"Cillian Burke showed outstanding leadership at the end there. He drove forward and caught a couple of kickouts. We’re delighted.

“Gavin (Horan) for the first one, ran hard. In fairness to Brendan, it is a dream to score two goals in a final. Brendan showed great composure. I think it was the perfect response for us after Fossa went up.” 

Post-match in the heart of Austin Stack Park, O’Connor cuts an utterly content figure. His brother, Cian, came on in the final quarter to help them over the line while his father, Kerry boss Jack, sat proudly in the stand. A queue of eager autograph hunters waits close by.

“It is great. I live in Milltown now and it is amazing to see the atmosphere and positivity locally they have been giving us. 

"It is a great boost for the players. All the young kids were up at the pitch last Sunday, we got to meet the future generation.” 

They march on to play Cill na Martra in Cork next Sunday having navigated an ultra-competitive intermediate championship. 

They won one of their group fixtures by a point, lost one and drew the other. 

They progressed through the quarter-final with a four-point win and in the semi-final they shocked Killarney Legion by three. 

It is fitting that the finale was a one-point nailbiter in front of an enthralled crowd.

“Any aspiring player in Kerry, this is where you want to play. This kind of football on this field, it is all conducive to open football. We’re just delighted to be playing the football we want to play.”