OLAN O’Donovan knows the significance of Sunday’s county U21A football final against Douglas in Macroom – not just because a county title is on the line, but because it could well be the last time the combined Barryroe and Argideen Rangers U21s ever take the field together.

Earlier this year, the Cork County Independent Teams Review Group recommended that only standalone club teams should compete at Go Games level (up to and including U11) and at U21, with independent teams permitted only in ‘exceptional circumstances’ approved by the Monitoring Committee. The recommendation was delivered this week that both clubs will field independent teams next season, bringing an end to Ibane Gaels at U21 level.

With their hurling campaign ended by defeat to Newcestown in the Carbery U21A semi-final, football now takes full focus.

‘It would be really special to win because, to be honest, the way things are looking, there will be no Ibane U21 next year in hurling or football. It would be nice to win it in our last U21 game,’ Ibane forward Olan O’Donovan told The Southern Star.

‘I’d say all the lads would agree with me. With development and playing higher grades, we are producing Cork players. I think it benefits Cork too, because they’re getting players from us. So I don’t really know why they’re getting rid of it.’

Olan O'Donovan scoring against Kinsale. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

There’s also another motivation woven through this group: the desire to win the county title for their late manager, Donal Holland. His passing in July hit the squad hard. Holland was a constant presence and a driving force, and to round off 2025 with a county title – adding to their Carbery crown – would be a deeply meaningful tribute.

‘It would be unbelievable to win it, especially if it is our last game. The fact that our manager Donal Holland passed away during the year, it would be extra special to win it for him too. He’d be one of the proudest Ibane men out there,’ O’Donovan said.

‘I wish he was still here with us. He’d always have a smile on his face when he was out training us and coaching us. It would be the best thing ever to win it for him,’ added the Ibane forward, who says he’s relishing football deep into winter.

‘Still training in November is great. Would you rather be sitting at home on a Tuesday night or going down to the lads having the craic and training? It’s something to look forward to on Sunday. Everyone is talking about it.’

Ibane’s path to the county final has included standout performances against Clonakilty, Bantry Blues and Mallow before their dramatic semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Kinsale. That Kinsale tie, O’Donovan admits, was their stiffest test yet.

Ibane Gaels captain Tomás Ó Buachalla in action. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘We went to play Mallow and it was a comfortable beating in the end – we weren’t struggling really. The Kinsale game was different. That was one of the toughest games I’ve ever played. The backs were unbelievable, they kept us in the game,’ he recalled.

‘They got a point at the end to force extra-time. We thought we were going to lose, but James Crowley had a kick at a two-pointer – one of the best points I’ve ever seen.’

The Carrigdhoun champions pushed them to the brink, but that’s not to say any other game was straightforward.

‘In Carbery we played Clon in the first round, Skibb in the semi-final and Bantry in the final. All those three are up at higher grades at adult level. Same with Mallow. Kinsale are another big team as well. It was hard enough going over to Kinsale to play them too. They had a lot of support. It was sweet to win over there,’ O’Donovan said.

Alongside Luke Murphy, O’Donovan has been in electric form. Between them, the pair have racked up an astonishing 9-41 across six games, with Murphy hitting two hat-tricks in the Carbery championship. But O’Donovan is quick to stress that the spotlight shouldn’t fall solely on the men doing the scoring.

‘All six forwards are great. The wing-forwards would be tracking back and don’t get enough credit. They do the hard work. We (the full-forward line) are there to kick it over the bar,’ he said.

‘We can have the easy work, but it’s the wing-forwards, wing-backs and midfield who have all the hard work. Big credit to them.’

City side Douglas, Ibane’s opponents on Sunday, are battle-tested. They overcame Beara with ease in the county semi-final, but it’s their victories before that – against Bishopstown, Nemo Rangers and Ballincollig – that underline their strength and pedigree. Sean Coakley, with 0-24, is their top scorer, with Jack Cunningham (2-8) and Eoin O’Flynn (0-10) two more threats. O’Donovan knows the scale of the challenge.

‘In the past few years, they’ve been Premier 1 at minor level and winning counties. They’re bound to have a very strong team. Beating the likes of Ballincollig. Same with Beara. It will be a tough game,’ he concluded.

For Ibane, though, this final represents more than just silverware. It’s a chance to honour a manager who shaped them, to cement their legacy as a combined force, and possibly to close the chapter on the Ibane U21 story in the best way imaginable: together, and victorious.