KILMACABEA are one win away from the county junior A football championship title that they have coveted for some time now.
Manager Donie O’Donovan has made it no secret. Their county semi-final loss to Inniscarra last year hurt. They redeemed themselves with their last-four win over Charleville last weekend, and now are just one victory away from playing county championship football in 2026.
Muskerry champions Donoughmore are their Cork JAFC final opponents on Sunday (3.30pm) in Páirc Uí Chaoimh after they saw off Nemo Rangers’ third string, 3-19 to 0-7, on the other side of the draw.
This is quite an interesting clash considering the narratives. Kilmacabea have won every game on route to the county decider, Donoughmore lost to Ballincollig’s seconds (1-13 to 2-11) in a Muskerry group game before their run to the county final.
Kilmacabea were in this county final before back in 2018, losing 2-9 to 2-8 to Dromtarriffe but have won five Carbery JAFC titles since 2017. Meanwhile, Donoughmore have only won two Muskerry titles since 2000, including their first in 14 years this season after beating Aghinagh after a replay (2-15 to 2-14).
Kilmacabea have vast experience all over the pitch. Players such as Daniel O’Donovan, Donnacha McCarthy and even Damien Gore and Ian Jennings have been around for a number of seasons. Donoughmore won the last two county Premier 2 minor titles, beating St Finbarr’s in their most recent win in October so this club is on an upward trajectory.
Kilmacabea’s Liam McCarthy in action.
The Muskerry champions are a young side and could be ones to watch go up through the grades in the next few years. But Kilmacabea need to make their time count now. They have the winning mentality. They have threats. It’s all about putting it all together to win a county crown.
Gore (3-49), Jennings (2-24) and Liam McCarthy (2-8) have been in great form this year and will need to show well in this final. Donoughmore have their own threats in Scott Barrett, Gavin O’Sullivan and Declan Keating. O’Sullivan has hit five two-pointers in his last four games while Barrett has scored 4-8 from play in that time too.
Both sides have pretty similar stats when it comes to defending. Kilmacabea have conceded an average of 12.13 points per game while Donoughmore have let in 12.14.
The Mid Cork side may have the better attack though. They have scored 21.86 points per game while Kilmacabea have 19.5. Worth noting that one of their games yielded a 5-17 to 0-9 victory over Dripsey but Donoughmore do have serious firepower.
It promises to be a thriller, but Kilmacabea’s experience and desire can prove to be the difference here.
