O’DONOVAN Rossa are determined to protect their 40-year record as a senior football club.

The Skibbereen side, who last played outside the senior ranks in 1985, face Fermoy in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Championship relegation play-off this Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn (5pm).

For context, none of the current panel were even born the last time Skibb lined out at intermediate level. Manager Gene Hourihane acknowledges the magnitude of the task ahead.

‘It’s a huge game for the club and we don’t take that lightly. The responsibility is on us to stay at senior level,’ Hourihane told The Southern Star.

‘I find, as a man who has lived in Skibb all my life, that rural clubs are finding it difficult to hold onto their players. We started the season thinking we’d have six more players than we do, but that didn’t materialise.

‘It’s been a tough season for us but I feel that we put everything we can into it. We’re very proud to have stayed in senior when other clubs have gone down and come back up. There is a lot of pressure on us but there is pressure on us all the time.’

O'Donovan Rossa manager Gene Hourihane.

While Skibb’s long-term goal is to contend for big prizes again, survival is the immediate target.

‘We were in a county semi-final only a couple of years ago under Gene O’Donovan (against St Michael’s). That was a huge game for the club and that’s where we’d love to be, but we are where we are,’ Hourihane explained.

‘I know that the 20 lads are proud to call themselves senior footballers. There are a lot of people within our club that would hate to see us go down.

‘It probably is the biggest game we’ve had in years, but it’s still another game of football you have to go out and win.’

In terms of team news, Rory Byrne is a doubt with a hamstring injury picked up during the group stages, but he is the only major concern. Encouragingly, Skibb have beaten Fermoy in each of the last two championship campaigns, but Hourihane expects another tight battle.

‘I honestly think there was nothing in those games. We’re evenly matched enough, but I would say that about every team we’ve played this year,’ the Skibb boss said.

‘Other than Carbery Rangers in the league (losing 4-18 to 1-14), we’ve been in the battle in every game. We’ve come out the right side of some, the wrong side of others.

‘Fermoy have been firefighting for the last couple of years and have been in this position a few times. It’s a first for us, but that might make them slight favourites given their experience.’

If O’Donovan Rossa survive, it will be despite the absence of several stalwarts – and Hourihane is full of admiration for his players.

‘I have been proud of the lads from the word go. I know that is a cliché but I’ve been asking the same group to go to the well every week. They have left no stone unturned,’ he said.

‘We’ve lost a good few senior players – Donal Óg Hodnett, Paudie Crowley our captain, Seán Fitzgerald. Rory Byrne and Dylan Hourihane senior have only played bit parts. These are excellent footballers who’ve carried the fight for Skibb for the last decade.

‘We’ve asked a lot from our young lads and by God have they stepped up. They’re wonderful trainers and athletes.’

Now it’s time to go to the well one more time – and keep Skibb in the senior ranks.