Former Kildare footballer hoping to guide Clonbullogue through front door

FORMER Kildare footballer Jarlath Gilroy was instantly attracted when approached about taking over as the Clonbullogue football manager for 2024.

The Ballymore Eustace club man trained Hollywood last year and he knew a bit about Clonbullogue. His uncle Vincent Gleeson, a brother of his late mother Joan, moved there from Galway years ago and he enjoyed childhood visits to the area.

He also saw Clonbullogue when they won the Leinster Junior Football Championship in Newbridge in 2021 and was very impressed by them. He knew that they had lost two Senior “B” Football Championships on the trot and he knew the potential they had.

Returning to the final was the first target he set. “I knew we were going to be contenders and the first target was to get back to the final. That was the main target and now our job is to do as much as we can to win it. Finals are never easy won.”

Clonbullogue didn't perform when beaten by Bracknagh in the 2022 final but pushed Ballycommon to a replay before losing last year. Are those defeats a factor in Saturday's final?

“It is always in the background but they also won one the year before in intermediate and they won that Leinster junior final. You don't play well every day so it is all about getting to peak at the right time.”

Clonbullogue lost to Cappincur in the first round this year and he knows what they will throw at them here. “Cappincur have been playing well the whole year. They got to the final with good wins and in Bill Carroll, they have the player of the championship so far. They also won the last day without their county player, Eoin Carroll. They have depth in strength and will be very difficult to beat.”

Gilroy has been happy with Clonbullogue's form since their first round loss. “They have won all their games since. A couple were a bit tight but that doesn't matter. We just want to win by a point. We have got here now and there is a big task in front of us. All we can do is our best.”

He liked the way Clonbullogue played in their semi-final win over Daingean and was glad to get a game in O'Connor Park. “It was our first time to play there since last year's replay. It is always good to play in your county grounds.”

It was suggested that Keith O'Neill's influence on Clonbullogue is as important as Bill Carroll for Cappincur. “Keith has been very good since he came back from the county. He is very good around the club as well, helping other lads. You can't depend on one person. A team wins matches and hopefully they all perform.”

He knows what football and the GAA means to Clonbullogue. “It is great for a small village to be competing and hopefully this will continue for the next couple of years. They are a great community and GAA community. The work they have put in is coming to fruition and hopefully will continue.”

Clonbullogue can play some terrific exciting football on their day and Gilroy agrees that it would be nice to see how they fare in the top flight. He also knows of the plans to bring the senior championship up to ten teams next year and the fact that the losers on Saturday will be offered the option of promotion but this has not been mentioned.

“It would be nice to see them in senior. The lads want to test themselves and to play at the highest level. It might give one or two more lads the chance of making the county team. Any team going up will be hoping to do so as senior B champions and Cappincur will be the exact same.”