Fast improving Hamilton on a high and gunning for Harty Cup glory

Pat Kenneally never featured in the Harty Cup.

A pupil at Hamilton High School, Bandon in the early 80’s, Kenneally wasn’t even afforded the chance to ply his trade in the second division of Munster Colleges hurling. Instead, he was forced to make do with life in the bottom tier — the C grade.

Kenneally, however, makes no complaints. Hamilton High School were far from a traditional force and with hurling well down the agenda, they would remain in the doldrums long after the former Cork captain headed to UCC.

Fast forward then to this afternoon where the current crop make their bid for a semi-final berth in the province’s premier colleges competition.

“Our participation below in C reflected at the time the poor, poor numbers attending the school. The seismic progress of late isn’t necessarily down to the increase in numbers; hurling is now emphasised much, much more,” he asserted.

“The perfect storm then is that they came across not simply a good group of players but an exceptional bunch. When the school recognised they had a good team they afforded the side every chance to develop what they had. It didn’t look fantastic for them at all times, they were drawn in a tough group but they are still standing.”

Manager Aidan O’Donoghue believes Hamilton’s lack of familiarity with the Harty Cup has stood them in good stead on their sojourn to the last eight.

Regular Harty Cup participants would have baulked at a group containing St Flannan’s, Ardscoil Rís, St Colman’s and De La Salle Waterford, but O’Donoghue’s charges knew nothing of the competitions former powerhouses and so the element of fear was non-existent.

“Last year was our first year back up at the top level since 1995 and we didn’t know where we stood really,” he noted.

“We knew we were capable of winning games, but we didn’t know how good we were, how good the opposition were. Everything was new to us. We finished third in our group, lost to Midleton by two points in our final group game and they went through at our expense. We knew then this is where we belong.

“This year we won the O’Callaghan Cup so that was a huge thing for the school, it was the first time we ever won it. It has brought massive confidence and belief to the panel.”

Said winning mentality, according to O’Donoghue, has been fostered since the current crop first stepped through the doors at Hamilton High School. The reward, he hopes, will be reaped later today.

“This group have got to finals of some degree at first, second, third and fourth year. That is the thing with these players, they were winning all the way up. Then at club level they are winning divisional and county championships. They have huge confidence in themselves and that has all come together this season.”

As for Dungarvan?

“The way we are looking at it is that we are in bonus territory. This is our final really. Dungarvan, I couldn’t imagine, are going to be fearing us too much. We are going in under the radar and that suits us. They have four or five Waterford minors so we are under no illusions.”