Lordan says Carrig can complete fairytale

FOR Carrigtwohill’s captain Brian Lordan, Sunday’s Cork SHC final is a far cry from the relegation battles of recent years.

From escaping the drop from top-flight hurling only a couple of years ago, Carrig are now 60 minutes from a first senior title since 1918.

“It’s a massive achievement to be in a county final, particularly after the couple of years we had in 2008 and 2009. They were real bad years for us, so 2011, a county final – some of us can’t believe it, it’s fantastic.”

They’ve overcome local rivals Midleton and Cloyne to reach the decider, but Cork Institute of Technology represent a huge challenge in the final.

“When the draw came up against Cloyne it was a huge motivating factor straight away, the same for Midleton. I suppose we were confident in ourselves, if we got things together, that we’d beat them.

“Now we’re in a final with CIT we have to look at it differently. You don’t have the local derby factor as such but they’re a serious outfit. They’ve had a run of very good results and we know we’ve a massive game ahead of us.

“The last time CIT played I think they had 13 players from Cork, a lot of them have played senior or U21 or minor levels. We’re conscious of that and we’ll be trying to keep an eye on their key players, though that’s probably the 15 of them.

“Still, we’re confident of our own ability and we have some big name players of our own, so hopefully they’ll match up well.”

Cork star Niall McCarthy is their biggest name.

“He’s a huge figure in our dressing-room and at training,” says Lordan. “He’s done it all and we look up to him massively.

“For the younger players, the guys of 20, 21, it’s a huge deal for them to be playing with him. He helps us out big-time and hopefully we can help him as well.”

Carrig have had to overcome a terrible run of injuries to get this far, he adds.

“We’ve had a shocking run – Ronan Power, Jason Barrett, Liam O’Sullivan, Seamie Farrell. Jason and Seamie are missing the final but we’re trying to use those injuries to our advantage, to win it for the lads.”

Lordan and his teammates are trying not to let the hype distract them: “As soon as we beat Midleton there was massive hype – a lot of people considered that the county final! People celebrated that but everyone’s looking forward to the final now – the bunting is out, the flags, even a car painted in blue and gold. The hype’s massive.

“We try to win every game – now there was huge motivation against Midleton, but we’re looking forward rather than back and hoping to win the next day. In fairness, people from Cloyne and Midleton have been saying to us, ‘best of luck, ye deserve to be there, try to win it now’.”

CIT’s big win over Newtownshandrum in the semi-final will make them favourites, as Lordan acknowledges.

“You’d keep an eye on the other side of the draw to yourself, but you’d be looking out for all teams, really. The Divisions and the colleges you’d pay attention to because they don’t play in the league so you’re not sure how good they are.

“CIT were tipping away nicely and they’ve been doing well in the last few years, they’re always in with a shout of reaching a county final.

“The score they put up against Newtown was impressive, but surprising? Not really, given the players they have.”