Big boost for Clonakilty with Dara Ó Sé set to rejoin the club

Clonakilty have been given a huge shot in the arm ahead of the new season with Dara Ó Sé set to rejoin the panel.

The Kerry native first joined up with the Brewery Town club before the start of the 2020 campaign given he lives in the area as he works as a Garda.

While he played very well in the Clon colours, the team were unable to make it out of their Premier SFC group as they finished third, below St Finbarr’s and Ballincollig, but above Carrigaline. They would rectify it the following year, but fell short in their pursuit of Andy Scannell.

On his championship debut for Clonakilty in 2020, Ó Sé was most certainly the best player on the pitch as he landed 0-8 (0-2 f) in the 1-12 to 0-8 victory over Carrigaline. Despite Clon bowing out at the group stage after just three games, the sharpshooter still racked up 1-20 in total as he finished fifth in the top scorers list.

Clonakilty have lost out to Nemo Rangers in the Premier SFC quarter-final in the last two seasons. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Then in 2021, the forward was Clon’s top scorer with 2-31, the third highest scorer in the Premier SFC as the Brewery Town made it all the way to the final, but they were narrowly beaten by St Finbarr’s.

Ó Sé transferred back to his home club of An Ghaeltacht, but didn’t move from living in Clonakilty. He has been his club’s most important player in the last few years, but is now in line to wear the Clon jersey once again, which is a big boost for all involved.

The West Cork side struggled in the first year without Ó Sé with a potential hangover from the county final loss too as they didn’t win a game in the championship in 2022, but did pick up two draws to finish third in the group and avoided the relegation play-off.

Since former player Martin O’Brien took the reins before the start of the 2023 campaign, they have been going on an upward trajectory and with the 30-year-old now looking like joining the panel, it will only bolster what is already a talented squad.

Clonakilty manager Martin O’Brien. Picture: Dan Linehan

The team in green and red, who won the Andy Scannell last in 2009, have lost the last two championship quarter-finals to Nemo Rangers, and on both occasions, Clon could have easily won. They came up short by a point in 2023 and then were beaten after a penalty shootout last year. They did lift silverware in 2024 after getting promoted out of the Division 2 football league before winning the title after defeating St Michael’s in the final.

They will be looking to push on this year. In their championship group, Clon will meet St Finbarr’s, Carrigaline and West Cork rivals Carbery Rangers, once again.

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