MICHEÁL O’Sullivan can pinpoint the match that injected huge belief into Clonakilty Community College’s senior football team.

Unbeaten across their Corn Uí Mhuirí and Simcox Cup campaigns, the Clon young guns are turning heads with a string of notable results – and one stands out.

‘Getting the performance against St Brendan’s College, and the result, that was a huge boost in confidence,’ O’Sullivan says of Clon’s opening Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster) Group 4 game in late October, a shock 0-15 to 0-11 win over Killarney football aristocrats, The Sem.

‘A result like that gives you the belief that you are capable of beating one of the recognised bigger teams in the competition.

‘That was an extremely pleasing day for the players and the management, and we have built on that.’

Before that result, Clonakilty had beaten St Francis Rochestown in the opening round of the Simcox Cup (Cork senior A), but taking down the most successful school in the history of the Corn Uí Mhuirí is the real statement win.

Since then, O’Sullivan’s side beat DLS Macroom (2-8 to 1-7) to reach the Simcox Cup final – they face Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Friday. In Munster, the Clon school beat both Skibbereen Community School (0-11 to 1-7) and Coláiste Choilm (1-13 to 1-6) to top Group 4 and power into the knock-out stages.

Clonakilty Community College's Conrad Murphy in action. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

For context, Clon didn’t get out of their group last season, so this is significant progress. That development could get an even bigger boost if the school wins the Simcox Cup for the first time.

‘There is a huge effort going on in the school, from the teachers who are coaching to the lads from outside helping – it would be nice to see that effort rewarded. It would also be a huge boost for football and its culture in the school,’ says the Rosscarbery man, ahead of the Cork colleges’ showdown with a team they beat just last week.

Surely Clon’s seven-point win against Coláiste Choilm, albeit in a different competition, will count for something?

‘It has to, to some degree,’ O’Sullivan agrees.

‘When you beat a team, it gives you confidence, but conditions were tough in Newcestown last week – it was on a soft pitch – whereas on Friday it will be a very good pitch, so that will suit both teams.’

That defeat knocked Coláiste Choilm out of Munster, so they’ll want revenge, and both teams will welcome back key players. Clonakilty duo Dylan Harrington and Jack Byerly, and Ibane Gaels’ Jamie Collins, missed the last game through injury but could return. For the Ballincollig school, Cian O'Connor and Kevin O’Leary will be eligible again, having missed the Corn Uí Mhuirí tie through suspension, while Cork U20 footballer Danny Miskella also sat out the must-win clash with Clon.

‘These are two completely separate games,’ O’Sullivan explains.

‘We took the Corn Uí Mhuirí game on its merit. They were down two or three players. So were we. It looks like all those players will be back for Friday, so that could put a very different complexion on the game.’

But there is no denying that the West Cork school has momentum and belief. Success breeds success, and this team is full of confidence. It’s also packed with quality players, drawing talent from Ballinascarthy, Carbery Rangers, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Ibane Gaels, Kilmeen and St James.

Captain Sean Whelton, a Cork minor in 2023, is the school’s top scorer in Munster. Kilmeen duo Rory Twohig and Oisín Harrington both played with the Cork minors. So did Dylan Harrington of Clon, who also featured for the Cork U20s this year.

‘We have a lot of very good players,’ O’Sullivan notes.

‘We did make an effort to start a bit earlier this year, to set ourselves up a bit better even though there was a lot of club stuff going on. We went one day a week early on to try and get a structure in place – that has made a difference. We had a reasonably settled team before we kicked off in the first round of the Simcox.

‘We have a quality coaching team, too: Pat Gilmore and Mike ‘Haulie’ O’Neill coming in from outside, and Tadgh Keating is another teacher involved. They are all high-quality individuals. We have similar people down along the line, and they are all contributing excellently.

‘Also, we are indebted to Clonakilty GAA Club for giving us their ground to train on, because we don’t have a pitch in the school.

‘It’s a combined effort, with the support of management within the school and all our feeder clubs. These guys are coming in to us out of U16 and minor championships in good order, well conditioned and well trained. So it was a case of us doing the best we could to form a team, and we seem to be going in the right direction at the moment.’

Clon CC boss Micheál O'Sullivan.

With Hamilton High School and Skibbereen Community School both failing to advance from the Corn Uí Mhuirí group stage, Clon are the only West Cork school left in the competition. Of the eight teams left in Munster, only two are from Cork – St Francis College Rochestown being the other. Kerry has six schools in the quarter-finals, so the odds, again, are stacked in their favour. But right now, the Simcox Cup final is all that’s on Clonakilty Community College’s mind.

‘Winning is a habit,’ says former Cork minor boss O’Sullivan.

‘You try to put a game-plan and a structure in place. It will be far from perfect at the start but you work on it and develop it. So every game you win, the better chance you have to improve.

‘We are enjoying this as a management team, and so are the players.’

Clonakilty have passed all their tests so far, but know the Simcox Cup final – and the rematch with Coláiste Choilm – is another huge challenge. A Frewen Cup final (Munster colleges U17A) follows next week, too. Exciting times, and a trophy in the cabinet would be just the boost this project needs before the Corn Uí Mhuirí returns in January.