Teenage attacking star Seán Warren was one of the central figures as Kilmurry claimed a first Muskerry U21AFC title in 47 years, but he and the team aren't satisfied with just one trophy.
BY BARRY O’MAHONY
TEENAGE attacking star Seán Warren was one of the central figures as Kilmurry claimed a first Muskerry U21AFC title in 47 years, but he and the team aren’t satisfied with just one trophy.
A 3-10 to 1-10 final final win over Éire Óg a month ago saw Kilmurry crowned as divisional kingpins, bridging a gap going all the way back to 1971, and Warren was deservedly chosen as the Auld Triangle Muskerry Sports Star for March, the first award of the year.
Having lost the 2017 final to Cill na Martra after a replay after proving to be the surprise package of the campaign, Kilmurry could have wilted. Instead, the defeat made their resolve all the stronger and they bounced back in emphatic fashion.
Having gained revenge with a victory over the Gaeltacht side in their opening game, they then saw off Ballincollig in the semi-final before accounting for Éire Óg.
Warren, who scored 1-4 in the decider in Coachford and set up the first goal for Joe Ryan, believes that they channelled the disappointment of last year to good effect while acknowledging the team effort.
‘To win the Muskerry U21 A title for the first time since 1971 is surreal,’ he said at the presentation night in the Auld Triangle in Macroom.
‘I thought we played very well in the month, it wasn’t an individual effort, it was a team effort and it all just clicked.
‘It took us a long time to get over the 2017 final defeat,’ he says, ‘we didn’t want to go through that experience again.
‘We were underdogs last year. Whereas this year, there was more pressure on us, but thankfully we delivered.’
The large number of players still underage from last year was a factor in the club going a step further, with 4-40 scored across their three divisional games as their forward division provided threats from all angles.
Against that, 4-24 was all they conceded and Warren pair tribute to the mean defence which allowed the attack to flourish.
‘All the forwards were delighted to score in the three games,’ he said, ‘but the defenders have been awesome.
‘They don’t get enough praise and if you were to pick out one of our best players, I would have to say it would come from the defence.’
It’s now onto the county championship for Kilmurry, looking to build on last year’s showing, when they went down to a strong Douglas outfit in the last four.
‘We are a year older and wiser, and there is certainly a steely determination to go one step further this season,’ Warren concluded, targetting more success this season.
