The Auld Triangle and Muskerry Award winner for June is Conor Cotter from Kilmichael.  Conor had an outstanding performance in hurling championship against Blarney.  Conor is the backbone of Kilmichael hurling and football teams.  He will always give 110%.  And on top of that he is a fantastic clubman, never too shy or busy to help out around the club.  Conor was presented with his trophy at the Auld Triangle on Tuesday night.  He was joined by family, friends and clubmates.  There was a great crowd there, just a testament to his popularity both on and off the pitch. Well Done Conor and continued success.

ARTICLE IN EVENING ECHO, REPORTED ON BY BARRY O'MAHONY

The Auld Triangle and Muskerry Sports Star Award winner for the month of June was Kilmichael’s Conor Cotter. The 27 year old played a crucial role in Kilmichael getting back on track in the junior A hurling championship against Ballincollig on June 26^th, scoring 2-5 (0-4f) in a 3-17 to 1-20 victory at the round 2 stage. Kilmichael showed character in abundance in the Ballincollig game, three weeks after suffering a heart-breaking 4-18 to 1-23 defeat to Blarney in the opening-round after extra-time. Cotter chipped in with 0-4 that particular day.

Cotter was joined by his family, team mates and Kilmichael representatives at the presentation in the Auld Triangle, Macroom recently.

The Kilmichael star was a deserving winner for the month of June. He has been consistently very good for his beloved club over the recent years through good and bad times. Despite a heave of activity in June, with a number of championship games played and players from Muskerry representing the various Cork teams, Cotter was the pick of the bunch for his two stellar performances.  

“To say I am extremely honoured is an understatement. I wasn’t expecting the phone call at all. Personally, I thought maybe a player from the Cork U20 football team, so it’s just surreal really. On behalf of my family, friends and club, it’s a brilliant achievement. I was gobsmacked when I got the phone call. Being from a small rural club in Muskerry, you wouldn’t think you would be considered for these special awards, especially with the amount of talent within the Division.”

Kilmichael entered the month of June hoping to start their Muskerry junior A hurling championship campaign on the right note, after losing the final to Cloughduv last year. Despite Kilmichael being up six points going into injury-time, Blarney pegged them back with two goals to force extra-time. Blarney had enough firepower to prevail and then it was do or die against Ballincollig in the back-door at the end of the month.

“When we were looking back at the Blarney game, we were very pleased with how we played. The lads gave it everything and came up short against an excellent Blarney team, they have talent all over the pitch. We knew we were going to be up against it, hurled well for most of the game, but just got caught out with the two late goals from Blarney that forced extra-time. Blarney then struck two further goals in extra-time and that won the game for them.

“We then moved onto the Ballincollig game in round 2. It was all about replicating the opening round performance. With regards to hurling in Kilmichael there can’t be any compliancy, we are a young hurling club, not every player is a natural hurler. Ballincollig is a traditional hurling club with a big population, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We performed and got over the line thankfully.”

Kilmichael were stable in the junior A hurling championship without making the business end of the championship, but that all changed last year as they progressed to the decider, but lost out to a fancied Cloughduv outfit. Nonetheless, it was a massive stride forward for hurling in Kilmichael. What has changed over the past 18 months?

“As a said above, we are a young hurling club. We started up a junior B team  for the  first time in 2007. As the years have moved on, our underage has grown, better structures and better facilities. All the hard work is bearing fruit now. We have the same management in place as last year, so that adds a bit of stability.”

The clerical officer with the Cork County Council sees a bright future ahead for the Annahala based side.

“There is a nice minor team coming through, they have a good attitude. Just looking at the junior hurling team at the moment, I am 27 and one of the oldest so that speaks volumes.”