Kilclief hurlers’ recent Division Two hurling league title victory suggests that the club is on the rise.
Last year’s beaten Junior Hurling Championship finalists won Division Two this year with a game to spare.
They went unbeaten throughout the competition and their victory over Bredagh two weeks ago – 5-26 to 2-21 – secured the title.
Their win over Bredagh in the penultimate game of the season showed Kilclief’s dominance, as they recorded a 14-point victory against a Belfast side that would have fancied their chances of taking something from the game.
Manager Liam Deegan said: “If they were to beat us, then we would have had to win our last game. The boys knew that.
“We went from feeling the pressure to the boys knowing what they had to do, and they went out and the scoreline reflects how that game went. They were dominant from start to finish.
“That took a lot of the pressure off.”
For manager Liam Deegan, who takes charge of the team alongside his brother Michael and Wexford man Shay Deegan, the success this year can partly be attributed to the strength and depth of the squad.
“We have had a few really good minor players come into the team and that sort of drives on the senior lads. That keeps their standards high,” he said.
“In years gone by, if you had a couple of injuries then you were struggling in key areas.
“Having such a big squad means we can pick and choose, and rest lads who were struggling or who had an important football match.
“We had the luxury of putting someone on who is at the same level when we have good numbers.”
Building squad depth has been a key objective for Kilclief.
“Last year we were struggling with numbers.
“We have had 20 in previous years, but this year, with everyone fit, we have had 30 lads. Most of them are dual players as well.”
It is remarkable that they have been able to achieve this as a relatively small club, but they have managed it through careful planning and investment in their underage structures.
“There has been a lot of work that has gone into the juveniles over the past number of years,” Deegan said.
“You see it in the strong minor, U16 and U14 teams and right down through the grades.
“Four or five boys in each of those groups are involved around the county. That shows that a lot of work has gone into the juvenile side of things.
“To keep that transition into senior, you need four or five boys coming in every year. If you do that, it is a big bonus.
“The numbers are unbelievable for such a small club.”
In the full story Liam goes on to explain how last year’s results are affecting this year’s form.
