PERHAPS there exists another world where the O’Donovan brothers, Gary and Paul, would be lining out in a county final this Sunday.

The Lisheen lads found their calling on the water – and that worked out alright, we’ll agree – but in a former sporting life, Olympic rowing legends Gary and Paul played football with their local club, Ilen Rovers.

We even came across an old underage Ilen team photo with Gary and Paul alongside current Ilen sharpshooter Dan MacEoin. All are of the same vintage – Dan, 32; Gary, 31; Paul, 31.

‘I played Gaelic up until I was 13 or so,’ Paul once said, before rowing became number one. On the water, he put his home parish of Aughadown on the map. Ditto for Gary. And for two-time Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy and his twin Jake, two former Ilen Rovers boys. And Olympic bronze medallist Emily Hegarty. And, of course, the Casey clan, led by rowing guru Dominic.

Dan MacEoin (left) played underage football with Paul O'Donovan (right).

Aughadown is a parish of rowers, but – along with Rath, the islands and Baltimore – it’s also home to Ilen Rovers, whose story is, fittingly, linked to the water. Even the club’s name is a nod to the River Ilen that runs through this community.

Much like the river, Ilen Rovers have had their own ebb and flow – great days, good days, and not-so-good days, with recent seasons (2021–24) falling into the latter category.

But ebb and flow brings change, too. Think rise and fall. Perhaps this season is the start of Ilen’s rise – the collective belief that those hard years are now in the past. Between April 2023 and May ’24, the club endured a 386-day wait for a win. This year alone, they’ve won nine and drawn two of their 14 league and championship games.

The season of stability that Ilen craved has blossomed into something greater: the chance to lift a county Intermediate A title this Sunday. Having fallen through several trapdoors in recent years, Ilen have found their level – and their momentum. Confidence is flowing again, and this rising tide is lifting a community that has been spoiled by rowing success in the past decade, but that has also remained steadfast with its flagship football team through the rocky waters.

‘It’s impossible not to notice what this means to the community. It brings a lot of people together, brings a lot of positivity, and it’s great to see people so happy,’ says modest Ilen manager Flor O’Driscoll – a man straight out of the Dominic Casey School of Stand-in-the-Background, Out-of-the-Limelight.

Much like the local rowers, hard work has helped spark Ilen’s revival this season, and there’s renewed optimism that the footballers can bring more success to an area well used to parties in recent years.

We know there’s something in the water – but Ilen have shown there’s plenty to cheer off it, too.