The final furlong for buoyant Ballygiblin

After the stars shone brightly for Ballygiblin over the weekend in the Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship final, the dust has now settled and the boys are looking forward to the All-Ireland semi- final against Fullen Gaels from Manchester, likely to take place on Sunday 23rd at a location near Dublin.

Fullen Gaels defeated Craobh Rua Camlocha from Armagh last Sunday after extra time and penalties in Birmingham, to now face their Cork opponents in a bid to advance to the All-Ireland club final. Closer to home in Mallow, Ballygiblin beat Tipp neighbours Skeheenarinky on Sunday to secure an important ‘derby’ win.

TheAvondhu met Liam O’Doherty, club chairman with Ballygiblin GAA Club, and the (fake!) cup at the pitch on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming match.

“We had a review night of the match - an analysis night we’ll call it - on Tuesday, so now we’re done and dusted and ready to look forward.”

The boys are back training this week, with the kind assistance of Sarsfield’s GAA Club who are offering them the use of their floodlit, all-weather pitch.

“The training now will be nothing different, we’ll go out Thursday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday again.”

Owing to Covid, the team don’t actually get to bring home the Rody Nealon Cup which they were presented with on Sunday, and so for our photos on Wednesday, the Patrick O’Brien Memorial Cup - a pointto-point reward belonging to Liam - will have to do. The lads though, are generally on two legs rather than four, and are a young team - the average age is 22 and a half, with four or five of the players minors.

Captain Fionn Herlihy can’t recall if he was 6 or 8 when he started hurling, but remembers ‘ tagging along’ to training sessions with the older boys. Team mate Dillon Sheehan, a relative pup on the team next to the established captain, allegedly started training just three months ago when he came out of the pram(!). It remains to be seen whether AFL player Mark Keane will be available for the semi-final, due in two weekend’s time. Keane got the all-clear from Collingwood to play in last Sunday’s game.

Fullen Gaels are the current All-Britain champions, captained by Kevin Fennelly, a native of Killeagh and one of two Killeagh players on the team. The Manchester boys have made the finals of the AIB All-Ireland Junior Club hurling championship twice before, in 2013 and 2015. In both matches they were defeated by a Kilkenny side, first Thomastown and in 2015, Bennettsbridge.

Back in 2010, one of the Fullen Gaels players, Greg Jacob, gained a certain notoriety after starring in an X-rated film with an adult film star. ‘ Tanya Tate’s Sex Tour of Ireland’ featured the then-Wexford hurler, who confirmed that it was his only such appearance in a film.

‘AN ENORMOUS LIFT’

The run-up to Sunday’s match included all manner of preparations, including mounting the Ballygiblin flag atop Galtymore, and Mitchelstown’s Liam O’Gorman decking out a BMW in the proud red and white. Preparations in both Skeheenarinky and Ballygiblin national schools were up to 90 before the match, and Skeheenarinky principal Catherine Kavanagh wishes the team the best of luck going forward and her congratulations on behalf of the school.

“We enjoyed every minute of the build-up to the match, and we were so proud of all the team, especially all of our past pupils. There was great excitement everywhere and it wasn’t our day on Sunday, but the whole community got a great boost from the performance of the hurling team over the whole year. Congratulations to Ballygiblin, and best of luck with the semi-final!”

Relations between neighbours Skeheenarinky and Ballygiblin have been more than friendly in the run up, and the aftermath, of Sunday’s game. There were some reports of posters being burnt at Ballygiblin Cross, Murphy’s Cross and Pollardstown Cross on Tuesday evening, but it is suspected to be an act of blackguarding rather than real malice, and a source advised that ‘local investigations’ are ongoing.

Principal of Ballygiblin NS, Mary Collins, has two sons on the team and panel, Michael and Jack Lewis.

“It’s given the place an enormous lift. The energy is amazing, even the kids that aren’t into GAA are excited. It’s gone from people not meeting at all, to meeting up at matches, to no homework! We have a red and white day on the Fridays before a match, and at this stage half our uniform is black and white!”

PREP WORK

Preparations for the semi-final against the Manchester side will require a certain amount of research, a task that Liam O’Doherty has no worries about.

“Our man Ronan (Dwane - coach) is on it, and he’ll do our research beforehand. Up to now he’s been successful in his tactics. We’re living the dream here!”

GREAT YEAR FOR SKEHEEN’

Fionán Ó Súilleabháin, captain of the Skeheenarinky side, spoke to TheAvondhu on Wednesday following his side’s unfortunate defeat after a fantastic year.

“I suppose it was one of those days where we didn’t play to our full potential. I couldn’t put my finger on it: it’s just one of those days. We’re definitely proud of the season we’ve had, and we’re proud of ourselves.”

The UCC graduate, who is based and working in Kilkenny, says that the team knew they were destined to go up a grade - it was just a matter of getting the pieces in place.

“We would always have believed we were good enough to be up there. We had the belief and we had the players and it just needs to

come together. In the last few years we were unlucky - you’d need a perfect year really. And so this year it was our year, and to be in the final was bonus territory.”

“It was a great day that I’ll remember for a long time. We were delighted to be involved in the Munster campaign, and we can look back fondly on the year and with pride with the county final win.”

‘EVERY CHANCE’ FOR BALLYGIBLIN

At intermediate level, the two teams are highly unlikely to meet again, but Fionán says that the move up is going to be good for the side, and for inspiration for the up-and-coming hurlers who are watching their heroes.

“We have plenty of numbers, and we’re certainly looking forward to next year. It’ll be a change of scenery - it’ll be a new challenge. A few of the younger members came up to me on the pitch after the match and it takes away that moment of disappointment when you see the kids still smiling and delighted with the year. It’ll be great to see them coming up, and they’ll have great memories of us winning.”

A lot of the Skeheenarinky side are celebrating with a skiing holiday, though Fionán is hard back at work, and believes that their Cork counterparts have ‘every chance’.

“They have great momentum now and have a few wins together; I’m sure they’ll give it a go. We’ll keep a close eye on the result, and keep an eye on the fixtures for the rest of the year.”

NO HARD FEELINGS!

Eddie Maher from Skeheenarinky joined the club in 1962, and is a former minor hurler with Thurles. He shares the feeling of the parish in congratulating Ballygiblin.

“It was a fair result: the best team won, no doubt about that. Ballygiblin are a fine strong team, and I hope they feature in the final.”

Eddie says he couldn’t afford to fall out over the match

“I have relations out in Araglin, part of Ballygiblin territory. I’ve cousins at both sides!

“There’s a great buzz around here. There was people talking about the match that never saw a match before. And there’s no hard feelings - we’re the best of friends over here!”