By Peter McGrath jnr
KILCOO’S incredible prolonged success at senior level is a massive credit to all those who have played or coached their men’s senior team over the last decade and a half. It is also a huge credit to those behind the scenes who continue to push the club on in all aspects, on the field and off. Nobody embodies this more than the chairman.
Michael Kane is in his second year in the role and he was understandably delighted on Sunday evening, as Kilcoo qualified for another Ulster club final.
Reflecting on the game against Erne Gaels, Michael said: “There’s no point brushing it any other way, Erne Gaels were poor, we played rightly without being at our best but we’re very happy to be in another Ulster final with loads to work on, even with the big margin of victory.
“We beat Scotstown by a similar margin here last year in a semi-final and we didn’t go on to win the thing so, it means really nothing, it’s just good to be there and we have a big two (now three) weeks preparation for an Ulster final against Scotstown or Newbridge.
“Since 2012 this is our seventh Ulster final now, if my counting is right. We have lost more than we have won, so we have ambitions to go out and win the game no matter who the opposition is.”
Michael Kane knows these Kilcoo lads better than most. He knows how their minds work, he knows the ethos of the group. He is also acutely aware of just how much this incredibly special group have given, and continue to give, to the black and white.
When asked what motivates men who have achieved so much on the field to continually strive for more, the chairman pauses then muses: “You could come out with a lot of clichés here but I think the players just do not want to lose out their place.”
Kane added: “The team that’s keeping them 1-15 jerseys are battling every night at training to retain them. They know there are good players coming from behind. A lot of lads on the bench there played throughout the league, a lot of them really well, and they’re maybe unfortunate at the minute because they can’t get on the team, so it’s that inner determination that they don’t want to be dropped and become a sub, they want to retain their place and keep on the Kilcoo team for as long as possible.
“That competitiveness helps. You need your subs pushing behind, and Barra and Jack and other young players came on tonight and did well, Lorcan Ward made his debut in Ulster as well.
“Those are the boys who are our future and in time they will take over some of these boys but, at the minute these boys aren’t letting go and they’re giving it everything. They are a committed bunch of players and they’re so motivated. If you could bottle it and sell it, you would make a fortune.”
This sustained success is a club effort. Michael is aware of the influence the current successes can continue to have on today’s underage players in the club. When Kilcoo made their breakthrough in 2009, a number of the current squad had barely started walking.
They were inspired as young people to achieve their footballing dreams by the exploits of their elders at that time and now the baton is being passed to them to be the heroes for the next generation.
Kane reflects that development isn’t all about winning but feels the Kilcoo model is proven to be continuing to work well.
“Look, we’re not winning everything at underage level, we’re winning an odd one here and there, but we are always competitive and most of our football is at A-level, and these boys are all adding to it.
“They’ve taken defeats along the way but kept going. In terms of the continuation, Dominic McEvoy, Barra’s dad, would have been on some of our first Ulster teams when we entered the competition back in 2009 and 2012, and now Barra is playing with some of the same lads he soldiered with, so that just gives an indication of the great longevity.
“For the younger players, success breeds success, they’ve looked up to the older boys and they want to be in their place in time. They keep pushing and pushing and pushing and that’s what makes the thing competitive and keeps the group at the business end most years.”
Kilcoo are at the business end once again this year. They have one more hurdle to clear in Ulster.
“With the abandonment of the other semi-final their Ulster final date has been pushed back to Saturday 13 December. One thing is certain, whenever it is, wherever it is and whoever it’s against, Kilcoo will be there, Kilcoo will be ready and Kilcoo will be hard to beat.
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