Four final defeats but Kenmare belief as strong as ever
39-year-old Paul O'Connor is in his 24th of senior football with Kenmare. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton
For the last decade, it’s been a painful case of so close but no cigar for Kenmare Shamrocks when it came to their attempts to win the Kerry Senior Club Football Championship.
Indeed, they have reached the final on four occasions in the last nine campaigns, but have never managed to get over the winning line with their noses in front.
In 2017, it was Dr Crokes who pipped them by three points (3-20 to 2-20), with Austin Stacks conquering them in two successive finals in 2020 and 2021 (by three and five-point margins).
Most recently, the most painful defeat of all arrived in the decider just three years ago, when Dingle scraped past them by the minimum margin (1-9 to 0-11).
Veteran forward Paul O’Connor acknowledges the hurt of those near misses but, as they embark on a new campaign when hosting Austin Stacks tonight (7pm), the Kenmare men have never lost hope.
“It’s great to get to finals, but when you get there, you want to win. It’s fair to say that we’ve had our share of heartache. Two finals went to extra-time, we lost one final by a point, so it’s so near and yet so far,” he said.
“We’ve nothing to show for it really. We’re back for another year to try and get to the pinnacle, get to the top of the steps as they say.
“It’s obvious that there is so much quality within the Kerry club championship. It’s a really hard competition to win. The standard is extremely high.
“When you see the likes of Dingle last year going on to win the All-Ireland, we’re so close, so it definitely gives you an extra incentive to just drive it on that extra bit, and just try and get over the line.
“That’s the aim at the start of any competition, or any championship, for any team. Everyone has aspirations of going all the way. That’s what you train for.”
With Peter O’Sullivan at the managerial helm this season, Kenmare Shamrocks were crowned county league (Division 1) champions earlier in the year. That has increased the collective self-belief.
“Winning is a habit. We hadn’t won the league since way back in the 80s, which was the last time that we won Division 1, so it’s definitely a big thing here in Kenmare for us,” added O’Connor.
“We’ve a new man at the helm this year in Peter O’Sullivan from Glenbeigh. He’s just changed up a couple of different aspects, and he’s got the best out of fellas this year. He’s brought a lot of new faces into the team, and we just seemed to gel well for the league.
“We put a lot of good results together, with a couple of big wins, against the likes of Stacks, so it bodes well for the championship. We’re just looking to build on that.
“Peter’s very diligent in what he does. He leaves no stone unturned in terms of having his homework done on other clubs, and that’s part and parcel of it.
“Even his training, there’s just been a couple of different drills, match scenarios, and it’s just a different voice. Peter’s been very good so far, and everyone’s happy with him.”
Austin Stacks, who beat Templenoe last weekend in their opener, will represent a huge challenge at Fr Breen Park this evening. Both sides have a conveyor belt of underage talent filtering through.
“Back five years ago, I think the minors won Division 2 of the county league and, then the following year they went on to win Division 1.
“It was no fluke obviously, and there is talent there. They’re coming through, and they’re integrating into the senior team as well.
“Just looking through the Stacks team, and they’re littered with quality, fellas who have worn the green and gold. We’ll definitely go in as underdogs. Hopefully home advantage will help us a bit, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
With Seán O’Shea leading the charge, along with experienced figures like Stephen O’Brien, Kieran Fitzgibbon, and O’Connor himself, Kenmare Shamrocks aren’t lacking in big game nous either.
At 39 years of age, and playing his 24th season of senior club football, the former Kerry forward loves the game as much as ever – more so, in fact, since the new rules.
“I suppose I’ve been lucky in that I haven’t had any serious injuries, just a couple of niggly things here and there through the years. Other than that, the body seems to be in decent shape,” he explained.
“In particular, with the new rules over the past couple of years, I’m enjoying it more than ever, to be honest. It’s a pity these rules didn’t come in 24 years ago!”
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