CLONAKILTY are more interested in building strength in depth than chasing early-season results, insists selector Eoin Ryan.

The Brewery Town club is intent on giving as many players game-time as possible before the start of the championship. Winning isn’t a priority, despite the West Cork side opening their county league Division 1 campaign with two wins on the bounce to set the early pace.

‘What we’re trying to do is blood new players and get as many new faces onto the scene as we can. We want to expand the panel,’ the Clon selector told The Southern Star.

‘Of course, every game is important and you want to win every game, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Everything is directed towards the first round of the championship for us.’

With seven premier senior championship clubs in the division, and results not paramount, this is the ideal time to give new members of the panel valuable experience.

With the club facing into a championship ‘group of death’ this summer alongside Castlehaven, Ballincollig and Knocknagree, the more options available, the stronger the panel will be. Plus, Clon want to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign when they failed to progress from their group.

‘Competitive games bring on players and let you see what they’re about. In Division 1, you meet the best players – that’s where you want to be. Winning gives you confidence and getting games into youngsters gives them confidence. That’s what it’s all about,’ Ryan added.

Clonakilty Community College’s Simcox Cup success in December, with an abundance of Clon players involved, underlines the talent coming through. Dylan Harrington is one player on the seniors’ radar but is currently on Cork U20 duty. The management are keen to integrate those schools players later in the league.

‘We’d have a few of them on the panel. There haven’t been any to come on in the league yet, but they have played a few challenge games,’ Ryan confirmed.

Former Cork footballer Kevin O'Driscoll has transferred to Clon.

The addition of former Cork footballer Kevin O’Driscoll adds strength in depth too – the new transfer-in has come off the bench in Clon’s opening two games, wins against local rivals Carbery Rangers (0-18 to 1-13) and Douglas (1-15 to 0-17).

Dara Ó Sé is Clon’s leading scorer so far with 0-12. Cork panellist Conor Daly (1-3), Sean McEvoy, former Cork senior Thomas Clancy and Des Kenneally (0-4 each) have all chipped in, while Ross Mannix, Sean White, Fergal Murphy and Dan Peet have contributed too.

It’s been an ideal start on paper, but Ryan feels performances can improve.

‘We are happy enough. Those were two games we could have lost. Tight games, but we managed to win them. That’s a good sign. We wouldn’t be happy with the way we played, but it’s early days,’ he said.

With their next two games at home in Ahamilla, Clonakilty will be hoping to build momentum. This Saturday, they face Knocknagree (8pm). They will meet the same opposition in their premier senior championship group opener on July 25th in Clondrohid, so there will be valuable lessons to take from this encounter.

‘I’d imagine both teams will have different players on the pitch in July to what we will have this Saturday. You’re learning in every game. We’re delighted with the competitive games.

‘It’s nice to play at home and get a bit of a crowd. That comes with its own pressure too. People in Clonakilty expect a lot from the football team. Having said that, it’s nice to play at home,’ Ryan added.

‘The big aim in our heads this year is the first round of the championship in Clondrohid, the last weekend in July. That’s what it’s all about,’ he concluded as Clon’s management strive for ideal championship preparation.