Castlehaven 'appetite' not waning, says Cathal Maguire

Mark Collins is driving the standards at Casltehaven.

COLLECTIVE APPETITE: Cathal Maguire stresses that there is no issue of the collective appetite waning. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Sat, 12 Oct, 2024 - 06:53

Eoghan Cormican

The outstanding concern coming back in as county champions is where will the collective appetite be at.

In Castlehaven’s case, they’d sated a 10-year hunger. Not alone that but they’d bested both the Barrs and Nemo to end the pair’s six-year stranglehold on the county Cup.

A collective waning of appetite was never an issue, stressed Cathal Maguire, given last season wrapped up not as they wanted.

“The way it ended, we'd have been extremely disappointed. It would be different if you finished on a winning note,” Maguire said, referencing injury-hit Castlehaven falling to St Brigid’s in the All-Ireland club semi-final on a 1-11 to 0-10 scoreline.

Once their club run was over and the spotlight dimmed on their little pocket of West Cork, Cathal and Rory Maguire, the Cahalane brothers, and Brian Hurley all returned to inter-county duties.

Still at home and making sure of no slippage was Mark Collins. Maguire can’t emphasise enough how fortunate they are to have such a respected figure in situ all year round to lead the line and bring everyone with him.

“Mark, since he stepped away from the inter-county scene, has driven standards below. It has been a massive bonus.

“While disappointing not to see him playing for Cork anymore, it is a massive bonus for us, from a selfish point of view, that he is able to drive standards week in, week out at training and make sure that nothing slips. And if anything does slip, Seanie [Cahalane] is there to pick up on that and give us a reminder.”

Maguire was once one of those all-year-round servants for the Haven. John Cleary brought him in with Cork ahead of the 2023 season and while gametime has been limited, exposure to that level has brought him more and more to the fore at club level.

The half-forward was outstanding towards the latter end of the 2023 campaign, top-scoring from play in the Munster final win over Dingle.

“From a conditioning point of view, you find yourself making those gains. From a skills point of view then, the speed that is there week in, week out at Cork training would definitely prepare you for the club championship.”