Kinawley skipper Sean McManus delighted with their resurgence

By Michael McMullan

WHAT a difference a year has made in Kinawley. Just over 12 months since relegation to the intermediate ranks, they’ve bounced back.

They take on Donegal champions Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin in Sunday’s Ulster Intermediate Championship quarter-final in Brewster Park.

Both teams will be playing senior football in their respective counties next year but there is a semi-final ticket up for grabs this weekend.

Kinawley’s draw with Erne Gaels in last season’s senior group stages wasn’t enough to keep them away from a relegation play-off that they lost to Enniskillen Gaels.

That was then and tis is now. Victory over Devenish in last month’s Fermanagh Intermediate final was pleasing in terms of both the result and performance.

“We played really well and that’s probably the most satisfying thing about it,” said their captain Sean McManus.

“That’s a really positive take out of it and we’re trying to refocus now for the Ulster game.”

After a few days of celebration, it was time to get back to training. The buzz around the club showed what it meant and it was important to celebrate.

“If you don’t celebrate, what’s the point,” McManus said of the days before the reset.

“You can see what it means to everyone. We were disappointed last year to get relegated (from senior) and we’re just glad to put that right this year, to bounce straight back up again.”

McManus smiles as he recalls the celebrations. Speaking at last week’s Ulster Club launch, they were already tapping back into what got them to the winners’ enclosure.

“We did do a lot of work in pre-season this year, probably more so than other years,” he said.

“One of the big problems last year was that we weren’t able to get our players fit and on the field.”

Injury was their foe and without key players, it was a slippery slope they were never able to find their feet on.

“I don’t know if we had any major injuries for the (Fermanagh) final bar, one or two long term ones,” he said.

Extra mile

“Having players available was massive for us and possibly that bit of extra pre-season work stood to us.

“The reality check of getting relegated probably meant that we had a bit more commitment this year as well from the lads to try and put it right,” he added.

“To be fair to the lads, they did put in a good shift this year and we feel we got what we deserved, so that’s always positive.”

McManus is 32 and classes himself as part of the ‘older brigade’ in Kinawley. The younger players in the group have added freshness.

“There are a few lads in their late 20s, but there’s probably a bit of a gap then,” he said.

“There’s probably more in the older bracket and more in the younger bracket than there would be in the middle.”

One of the young guns is Tiernan McKenna, a talented forward who shot 1-8 as he picked up man of the match in their win over Devenish to land the title.

At the other end of the age scale, Ruairi Corrigan bagged two goals as they sealed the deal.

“We have a lot of young boys come on leaps and bounds this year and can really add to the group,” McManus said.

“It’s a good camp to be in at the minute anyway. When you’re winning, it’s always good so hopefully, we’ll keep going.”