'The people in Éire Óg couldn’t be doing a better job': Darragh Clifford eyes rewards for club's efforts

Clifford sees the great work the club undertakes day-in, day-out, and he says the players profit from that.

Darragh Clifford, Eire Óg pictured at the Cork football championship semi-final launch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh: Pic: Chani Anderson.

A one-point win over Bishopstown in the first round of the Cork senior A football championship acted as a springboard for further Éire Óg success with none other than 2010 All-Ireland winner Daniel Goulding leading by example.

The forward remains a primary contributor to the team. He would be top-scorer again in the second round against Clyda Rovers, this at a time when they were boosted by the return of Cork U20 captain Darragh Clifford.

The perfect balance of youth and experience.

The pressure was off for the final group match with both Éire Óg and Kilshannig having already qualified for knockout football.

Nonetheless, Éire Óg were relentless in pursuit of three wins from three and subsequently they progressed directly to the semi-final.

The true essence of any club lies in its members and volunteers.

Clifford sees the great work they undertake day-in, day-out, and he says the players profit from that.

“You set out to win every game and we’ve been fortunate enough to do that so far. That reflects back on the club. There is so much going right there. Obviously you look forward to going down training two or three times a week, meeting the lads.

"We’re really enjoying our hurling and football. And we’re fortunate it is reflected in the results. Really enjoying the facilities, and the people in Éire Óg couldn’t be doing a better job.”

Clifford was chosen to lead the Cork U20 football squad earlier in the year, the Rebels falling short to Kerry in the Munster final, marking five-in-a-row for the Kingdom.

The rivalry that exists between the neighbouring counties can be a touchy subject in the Clifford household. Or maybe as he prefers to put it, a bit of friendly banter.

“On my father’s side, my grandfather Paddy Clifford would have won junior All-Ireland’s with Kerry and my father (John) would have won underage with Cork as well.

“On the other side, my grandfather Colm Sheehan would have won an All-Ireland hurling final in 1966.

“My brother Colm would have represented Cork at underage.

“My cousins Isobel and Rebecca Sheehan, they would all have represented Cork as well.

“I was lucky enough to represent Cork, and I was involved with the seniors as well, I got huge learnings from them.”

Similar to other dual clubs, competitive games take centre stage during the summer months. The full-on commitment demands a lot of dedication.

Éire Óg bowed out of the Premier IHC after finishing third in a group headed up by current finalists Ballincollig. It was tough coming up short, but every cloud has a silver lining and it meant they could concentrate solely on football and on a heavyweight clash with Cill Na Martra in Coachford on Saturday (3pm).

“We were on the go every second week between hurling and football so the few weeks off we welcomed,” he says.

“We’re training hard and there is a great group of lads there at the moment. Marking great players every day and that is a way to get better as well.”

Their Muskerry opponents from out the road suffered defeat to Knocknagree in the 2025 final. So they will be keen to turn that six-point failure into a triumphant turnaround.

Eoin Fehily and Carthach Keane will have Éire Óg well primed too, ready for action and whatever might come their way, an incentive is to recapture the trophy they claimed six years ago.

“It is very exciting, it is where you want to be,” Clifford says.

“We’ve done ourselves justice this far and we are really looking forward to keeping it going.”