The big interview: Cahalanes are loyal brothers and proud Castlehaven team-mates

Family connections are a firm part of the fabric in the Castlehaven GAA club.

Collins, Maguire, Cleary and Cahalane are just some of the surnames synonymous with the West Cork club.

Damien, Conor and Jack Cahalane, sons of former Haven and Cork footballer Niall, have been playing on the same team since the 2020 season, winning two Cork Premier SFC medals in 2023 and ’24 and also a Munster one in 2023.

The trio are of different ages, Damien being 32, Conor 27 and Jack 22, so playing together wasn’t possible until a few years ago. Damien and Conor have been playing with each other since Conor joined the first team panel in 2014.

The three of them were born in Cork City and were raised in Togher on the southside and given the history of the Cahalane name in Castlehaven and their father's achievements, they were never forced in to making the two-and-a-half hour round trip down to West Cork to put on the blue and white jersey.

“We were always told at home anyway that the option was there to play wherever we liked,” Damien starts.

The Cahalane brothers have enjoyed great success with Castlehaven in recent seasons. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“We didn’t go down that route so maybe we wouldn’t have got dinner at home if we didn’t play for Castlehaven! When I was around 13 years of age, dad did say if I wanted to play with my friends in the city that the option was there. I also made friends below in West Cork and I always kind of aspired to carry on the family tradition so it was never in any real doubt in my own head where my ambitions lay in football.

"I am fully sure the lads are the same. Castlehaven is a club that is built on families and it’s certainly something that adds to the group. When you’re looking to the left and right on the pitch, you know what they're made of.”

For Conor, who had another impressive season for the Haven last year, his earliest memory following Castlehaven set a seed in his head.

“When I was six, Castlehaven won the county against their rivals Clonakilty in 2003. That was my first real taste of what the club was all about. They live and die for football and to see the scenes afterwards inspired me to try and get to that stage. Dad was still playing in his early 40s that time too.

"I can remember winning the Joe O’Regan trophy. It’s an U10 tournament below in Castlehaven. Back then, we had Ilen Rovers in the final and it was like winning the All-Ireland. You grow up dreaming of being a Castlehaven footballer that wins senior counties.”

Jack is the youngest of the brothers, so it was extra special when he joined the Haven first team panel for the 2020 season. His first championship appearance was in a local derby match that year with his first start coming in the Premier SFC final in that campaign.

Jack Cahalane on his Castlehaven debut against Carbery Rangers in 2020. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

“It’s always great playing for Castlehaven but to play with the two brothers for the first time against Carbery Rangers was one we will never forget,” says Jack.

“I came on with about 15 minutes to go. It was live on TG4 too. I got a few balls from Damien that day in Clonakilty which helped, long rackers in on top of the small fella! I really enjoyed it and it was something I wanted to do for so long.

“Seeing the team win back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 was brilliant so it only motivated me more. While it was nice to play with the brothers, we lost the final to Nemo Rangers in that 2020 season and it was challenging for us in the sense of not getting over the line. We were always nearly there. You want to win at the end of the day.”

All of the disappointment and hurt were washed away in 2023 after the team in blue and white landed the Andy Scannell trophy for the first time in 10 years.

The three Cahalanes were powerhouses in that campaign and there was a nice picture taken by Eddie O’Hare of the three with the trophy after beating Nemo Rangers in the final. The trick would be repeated 12 months later when another Premier SFC title was won. The club’s seventh.

“You go so long without winning the county and I was saying to myself, 'Jesus the brothers are on the team now, will we ever get over the line together'. It was challenging times,” Damien said.

Cahalane brothers, Damien, Jack and Conor with the Andy Scannell trophy after defeating Nemo Rangers in the Premier SFC final in 2023. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“When it did happen, it was a massively emotional day because there were so many people we would have loved to see that happen. We lost a lot of great club people including our grandfather Ned Cleary, who would have loved to see us on the same team winning a county for Castlehaven. There was a massive outburst that day and then winning it again last year, we were kind of more soaking it in then.”

The county success in 2023 for the West Cork side was Damien’s third medal while it was Conor and Jack’s first. A first Munster medal for the three would arrive in December of that year after beating Dingle in the final after an epic game. It went all the way to a penalty shoot-out. A certain outfield player going in goal for the penalties, roofing two penalties and saving one. More on that in a bit.

“For us to get over the county final was a big thing, never mind Munster,” Conor states.

“Winning a Munster title was beyond belief. It was extra special obviously winning alongside the brothers. Dad won Munster with Castlehaven in 1994 and 1997 so the aim is to try and at least draw even with him on that front.”

Damien takes up the story as to why he went from being outfield to going in goal. The celebrations afterwards said it all.

“At training a few days before the game, we were practising penalties and a couple of lads said to me that if the match on Sunday goes to penalties, we would like you to go in goal. I fobbed it off as we aren’t going as far as penalties anyway. I entertained the idea but never thought it would come to that. I didn’t practise for it or anything. I had played in goal for Greenwood, but that was a long time ago.

Castlehaven’s Damien Cahalane celebrates after winning the Munster SFC in 2023. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

“Darragh Cahalane is our goalkeeper but it was his first year in goal and had very little experience of penalties. When it came to it then, we went up to the referee to tell him we were making a change in goal. He had to ring Croke Park to see if it was all above board.

"It threw a spanner in the works for Dingle and mind games were thrown into it. I saved Tom O’Sullivan’s penalty and we had finally won and when I ran out to the lads, I pulled my hamstring.”

Castlehaven will be favourites to win a third successive Cork Premier SFC title this year. It’s something they have never done in their proud history and it would be more history for the Cahalane family. The Haven will face Mallow, Newcestown and Valley Rovers in their group stage.

“The beauty of sport is that no matter what you achieve, you always want more. I know it has been said that Castlehaven had only won back-to-back once before so it was nice to do that again. It has also been thrown around that the club has never won three counties on the bounce. You can be slightly happy with what you have done, but there’s always something else to achieve. It will be a big motivation for us. We want to go where the club has never gone before.” Damien said.

Damien, Conor and Jack’s father Niall, played until he was 41 years of age. He retired in 2004.

Castlehaven's Niall Cahalane tries to force his way past Mallow's Barry Doyle in 2004. Picture: Des Barry

“He always claims that he played his best football in his 40s,” Jack laughs.

“As long as you're enjoying it, you will want to play for as long as you possibly can. You would love to give back for as long as you can because it doesn’t last forever. The split season will shorten players careers for lads that play at inter-county level anyway,” Damien concluded.

“Don’t be giving Damien any ideas!” Conor ended the enjoyable chat.

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