Mitchell plans on staying on the long road for Kilcormac-Killoughey

TAKING time out and travelling is almost a mandatory part of growing up for many young people now but it is not on the agenda of ace Kilcormac-Killoughey forward Charlie Mitchell.

In the third year of an accountancy course, Mitchell has developed into an outstanding forward and was named as the Joe McDonagh Cup player of the year just last week.

“I have no desire to go and travel. I wouldn't be able to miss a whole season travelling. I want to stay around and hurl. 21 is still young and I still have ten to 12 years left. I want to make as much use of that and be as successful as I can,” he said when asked had he any travel ambitions.

Now in his fourth year on the Kilcormac-Killoughey senior hurling team, Mitchell experienced the pain of defeat before the joy of winning. Last year's final win over Shinrone came as a “huge relief” to him and he stated that the earlier defeats did spur them on.

On the count down to Sunday's Senior Hurling Championship final against Ballinamere, Kilcormac-Killoughey have been in super form this year. They play a Ballinamere side that most of the players haven't met in senior championship action.

Mitchell said: “I played them a handful of times underage as well. We haven't really played each other. They have good players. I don't know how many times we played each other at senior level. Shur Ballinamere only came up in the last five or six years.”

Their demolition of St Rynagh's in the group and Coolderry in the semi-final this year showed how good K-K are but the flying forward said:

“It could be a different story another day. It could have went a different way against Coolderry. We had a good start in the two matches and we'll be trying to do the same hopefully (against Ballinamere).”

He knows the Ballinamere players well from underage and senior with Offaly.

“Yeah. I know the boys well. I'm good friends with the boys so I'd say it will be a good match between us.”

He is ignoring any favourites tags and talk like that.

“Some of the Ballinamere lads have a lot of experience. We're trying to ignore what people are saying. We'll focus on ourselves and our own game.”

21 years of age, he has come up at a special time for K-K.

“From minor all the way through to U-20 we've a good bunch of lads coming through. That's only once in every 30 to 40 years. That mightn't happen again in any club in Offaly for a while. We're after winning with Offaly as well. We're not satisfied with what we won so far . . . we're hungry for more success.”

Hurling is a central part of his life.

“My whole life has been geared towards it. Going forward I'm trying to get the best out of myself. You're thinking so much about it but I do try to take my mind off it.”

He does find it hard to get a break from hurling and while he may be able to do that in college, it is a different story at weekends when he works part time in Galvin's for Men in Tullamore. Hurling is a frequent topic of conversation there but he will get away from it when he has to.

“Especially the time of the All-Ireland a few years (U20 in 2023) ago I had to take a few days off before it. Sitting at home thinking about it but everyone coming in would be talking about hurling.”

His father Paul was an outstanding young hurler years ago but didn't have a long adult career. His son hopes to stay on the long road.

“I hope to keep going as long as I can and play into my thirties,” he concluded.