(JJ Hurley)
Carrigaline's hurlers reached the Co Op Superstores Premier intermediate final, following a pulsating semi-final on Sunday in Ballygarvan. Final Score, Carrigaline 1-19 to Ballincollig's 1-18.
Twelve months ago, Carrigaline hurlers were on the verge of dropping from the Co Op Superstore Premier Intermediate Hurling Grade to the Lower Intermediate Grade as they faced off against Bandon in a relegation battle.
On a wet day in Ballinspittle, Carrig rolled up their sleeves and put in an hour of hurling that ensured they would remain in the higher grade for at least another year.
The question for the hurling fraternity at the time was would Carrig be able to reverse what was seen by some in the county to be a sinking ship.
Signs were oniums, not helped by the footballers losing out in their relegation battle with Mallow.
A few eyebrows were raised when a notice appeared on social media with the club looking to recruit a hurling coach.
Some might have considered it a sign of desperation, ‘Had the club no one in its ranks to take the helm’, featured in a conversation or two
But it turned out to be a stroke of genius, as answering the call was a man with a pedigree for success: Eddie Murphy.
Living and working over the border the former Bishopstown and UCC hurler has often had his work overlooked, but Carrig’s neighbours Ballymartle know his worth, as he brought them to All-Ireland success in 2011.
A hurling man, he’s known for two things, his knowledge of hurling and his honesty.
It wasn’t long before green shoots began appearing, an early league game had Carrig not wilting when the opposition began to rough things up.
A league campaign had them lifting the division two title at the expense of the Barrs, before the championship arrived.
Some thought the old failings had returned when they surrendered a ten-point lead to Watergrasshill, but a plucky performance against Valleys and a narrow loss to Castlemartyr had them qualifying for the knock-out stages of the championship.
Ballinhassig to their cost found a tenaciousness in Carrig’s ranks, with Drake, Kelleher, O’ Shea and Co hurling out of themselves, that left their opponents singing the blues.
Today, it was the favourites from Ballincollig that floundered on the rock that is becoming the Carrigdhoun side.
Their victory was also helped by a Rhys McCarthy’s goal and a slice of luck helped, but no side ever wins anything without a rub of the green.
It’s a deep breath now, and in step the footballers, who face Kanturk on Saturday next 17.45pm at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh in their county semi-final.
As for who the hurlers face in the final, that answer will come next Sunday when Mallow and Watergrasshill battle it out.
There is one thing for certain, whoever they play in the county final, Carrig know that it will be a battle.
All their achievements to date will count for nothing when they cross the white line for that final sixty minutes.
It will be a big ask for the Carrigdhoun side to go to the well one final time in 2024, but surely that feeling is far better than that was in store in 2023?
Comments