Intermediate Hurling Final:
This weekend sees the club compete in its first ever intermediate hurling final, as we take on Glenroe on Saturday October 28 in Kilmallock at 3.30pm. After a fantastic victory in the semi-final over Dromin/Athlacca, we take on a Glenroe side who we have become very familiar with over the past few years. In 2015, Glenroe beat us in the group stage; in 2016, we defeated them, while we met again in the group stage this year and the match finished up a draw. It shows there is nothing between the sides and it will surely be another titanic clash on Sunday.
It is a huge day for the club, the parish have not been blessed with many County final appearances over the years which means that every time we do make one that it is a special occasion and we need to make it count! It is 15 long years since the parish last reached a County hurling final, when Kildimo won the 2002 junior hurling final. Adrian Garvey, Mikey Dillon, John Chawke and Danny O’Sullivan are still soldiering on from that era and their experience complements what is otherwise quite a youthful side. There are also seven representatives from last year’s minor A hurling champions on the matchday panel. Before that, you had to go back to the 1930s and further for appearances in County hurling finals, which is much too long.
Huge work has gone into the club at underage level in recent times and we have seen this bear fruit with success at underage levels over the past 10+ years. It is fantastic to see this feed on through to adult grades and bear fruit.
Chris Sexton and his management team have done their utmost all year to prepare the team in the best possible way, and we have come through the championship unscathed. A couple of scares along the way, but we remain unbeaten and have reached the final. Now it is the time to push on and go that one step further and take home that County title! There is a great buzz about the parish currently, as the flags and bunting have gone up and the final is the primary topic of conversation around the place. We want to see Kilmallock mobbed with blue and white next Saturday, and hope that our fantastic supporters can give the team that extra bit of edge on the day. Hope to see you all there in what surely be a superb atmosphere.
All we can say is, from every single person in the parish, to wish the very best of luck to the team and management next Saturday. We know that they will give it absolutely everything they have, and we are behind them all the way! Cill Díoma/Pailís Chaonraí abú!