Killeen Still Hungry For Glory As Bricks Prepare For 2020 Clare SFC Final

Derrick Lynch

When Mark Killeen started out on his senior football journey with Kilmurry Ibrickane, it was clear that he was destined to end up as key cog in the full-back line.

He had plenty advice at the kitchen table at home, with his father Kevin being a corner back of distinction for the club, including being a central figure in their championship success in 1993.

When asked how much of the dark arts of defending were passed on to him by his father, Mark is quick to point out the differences in how they approach that role.

“The TV replays would not have favoured him too much anyway. He had a different style of football to me. My style would be more trying to be out in front of my man” he laughs.

Since his first county final appearance in 2005, Killeen has developed a reputation as one of the best man markers in Clare club football. Understated in the manner in which he goes about his business, he will be a crucial figure for Kilmurry if they are to bring Jack Daly over the Hand hill for the first time since 2017.

He feels the learning curve he experienced in his early days at senior level set the standards for the years that lay ahead.

“The likes of Dermot Coughlan, Odran O’Dwyer, John O’Connor and these lads, they were our heroes growing up. We saw them in training where it was really tough and every session was like a championship match which really opened our eyes coming up from minor. It was a big step up, and it took a few years to break on to the team. We see with the younger lads coming through now that they have maybe a little more going on and more distractions than we had when we were younger so it is that bit harder for them. The main thing is that despite that, there will simply be no success without putting in that hard graft” he noted.

The championship wins of 2011 and 2012 were watched from afar as he spent time travelling, but a third championship medal was secured with victory over Cratloe in that two game saga in 2016. Killeen admits there is still that hunger within the group for more success, but outlined everyone knows that success does not come easy.

“When you get to a certain age every one that comes is a bonus so you start to just take it year by year. You really start to appreciate it that bit more as time goes on and it is great to see the younger lads coming through now at the moment because they are the ones that will have to take the mantle on eventually. Hopefully we can show them the way a small bit and the future will be bright for the club. There might be stages where you don’t go well in a year or lose out in a final and that can happen after winning a few championships where things can get stale. After losing a year or two, you really get that hunger back and you start to think that we are still good enough so it is a case of getting back out there and putting in the hard miles. There is no magic formula, you have to put the work in at training. That is something we are trying to get across to the younger lads, there is no way you can just turn up a month or two before the championship and think you are going to win it. There is a lot of work to be put in and there are no shortcuts” he stated.

Kilmurry come into Saturday’s decider with a strong line of form having taken down 2019 champions Miltown in the opening round before accounting for Eire Óg and Lissycasey to reach a second consecutive decider. Killeen says he is hopeful they can produce the performance needed to get the win.

“We are very pleased with where we are at the moment and the management team have put in huge work with the likes of video analysis and working on game plans. We have also changed our style of football a bit this year and we have introduced a bit more pace to the team especially around the middle. There is no secret that we have a lot of older lads with plenty experience but we have a good balance this year with the younger lads and I think things have really clicked with everyone buying into what we want to do. Everyone seems to be willing to assess after each game and correct where we went wrong in order to make those improvements. We seem to be going well but we know full well how tough it is going to be in that final but hopefully we can do enough to get over the line” he said.