O'Kennedy relishing busy schedule with CúChulainn League Final on the agenda
Hurling is being developed in Tourlestrane.
Saturday August 2
CúChulainn Hurling League Division Three Final
Tourlestrane v Erne Gaels, Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon, 2pm
By Cian O'Connell
Kevin O'Kennedy wanted to hurl. So, O'Kennedy found a way and the past couple of decades have been well spent.
A footballer with his native Coolaney-Mulinnabreena, O'Kennedy, the current Sligo hurling captain, was always a dual player. "When I started hurling, it was with Tubbercurry," O'Kennedy explains. "That isn't my home club either.
"I hurled with Tubber all the way up until senior, and I got one year at senior with Tubbercurry, but they couldn't field any more teams. Then, I'd to go out to Tourlestrane. I've been with Tourlestrane for six or seven years now."
Tourlestrane's development in the underage ranks in Sligo provides a source of encouragement. "There is a massive amount of working being done for hurling in Tourlestrane at underage level," he says.
"At U13s, U15s, and U17s, it has been very strong, they're probably one of the stronger clubs in Sligo in those age groups. We're starting to get a few of those players coming into the set-up, and that is really driving it on.
"Their standard of hurling is way better than when we were coming up at that age. That is a big thing, it is a real driving force. You've the Gallaghers, Jerome Quinn, and a few of the Quinns, they're driving it, really."
Challenges certainly exist, but O'Kennedy is delighted with the impact of the CúChulainn League for Tourlestrane. "For a lot of it this year we've about 20 for matches," O'Kennedy says.
"Now, at training sometimes you might only have six or seven or there could be 14. Lads always seem to be there for matches and that is why this league has been very good for us.
"Lads are turning up on the Wednesday nights. The older lads are even playing more hurling, and they're coming on leaps and bounds. We've played five games or so in it."
There is a sense that Tourlestrane are beginning to acquire belief and momentum. "We'd be improving at adult level, but it will be another couple of years for us to be competing with Easkey or Naomh Eoin," O'Kennedy says.
"They're the standout teams, Easkey and Naomh Eoin, who can put it up to them. We're definitely a lot better this year. We're not at their level, but we'd be fancying beating Coolera or Calry, who'd have beaten us in previous years."
Tourlestrane juvenile players and mentors pictured at Croke Park earlier this year.
An increasing number of players from the club are representing Sligo in the various levels. "In the U20s you'd four or five and at U17s you'd have six or seven," O'Kennedy responds.
"That wouldn't have happened much before. In my age group there wasn't many underage. So, that is very encouraging. You see the young bucks in Tourlestrane, they're living with the hurl.
"They'd have the hurl at football matches, you wouldn't have seen that six years ago."
During the past decade Sligo have enjoyed productive moments at inter-county level. "Sligo won the Lory Meagher, then we won the Nickey Rackard the following year," O'Kennedy recalls.
"So, we went up two divisions in a row, and we held our own in Christy Ring up until two years ago. We came back down a bit then with lads going away. It was a very young team with Sligo. There is a good crop coming again."
Has the Celtic Challenge competition benefited young hurlers in Sligo? "It has been a help bridging from when you were U16 or U15 now," O'Kennedy replies.
"You'd have blitzes really. There was never an awful lot of games for Sligo and there was never a minor team. With the Celtic Challenge, lads are getting hurling at that age group.
"They wouldn't have that before, there wasn't a competition for minor. It has made a huge difference, really. My age group was the first crop for the Celtic Challenge. It has showed in Sligo because a lot of lads continued on hurling at senior."
Matches are what players want. A hectic schedule awaits O'Kennedy because the next few days will be extremely busy.
On Thursday evening, O'Kennedy features in the Sligo SHC for Tourlestrane. Two days later Tourlestrane contest the Division Three CúChulainn League Final against Erne Gaels in Ballyshannon.
Coolaney-Mullinnabreena start their Sligo IFC campaign on Sunday. "I've a day off on Friday," he laughs. "It could be worse. You could have no games." O'Kennedy wouldn't have it any other way.
