Ring insists dual focus has been to Aghabullogue's advantage

DUAL INTEREST: Aghabullogue's Paul Ring (left) and Mitchelstown's Killian Roche at Páirc Uí Chaoimh ahead of the Bon Secours Cork Intermediate A FC final.

There were 30 names listed on the match programme for Aghabullogue’s Intermediate A hurling semi-final three weeks ago. There were again 30 names listed on the match programme for the club’s Intermediate A football semi-final a week later. 

A quick crossover count arrived at 20 dual players. Of that 20, nine featured in both semi-finals.

A slightly more pertinent point is that both semi-finals were won. Mayfield and Dromtarriffe downed. And so the many dual players of Aghabullogue will chase a unique Intermediate A double over the next fortnight. Part one of that double bid arrives this weekend.

Sunday’s county final double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is in itself unique for having double-chasing dual clubs in both the Intermediate A and Senior A deciders.

Where Aghabullogue will look to get the ball rolling at 2pm, Newcestown will hope to collect the offload and raise their own flag of victory after 4pm.

Aghabullogue’s opponents in the curtain raiser, Midleton, were also hoping to come hunting a double. 

Their defeat in last Sunday’s little All-Ireland, though, means the Magpies are hoping to avoid back-to-back county final defeats either side of the town being flooded. Midleton now come chasing a badly needed bit of good news.

Aghabullogue’s involvement in either showpiece is no surprise package story. They have knocked on the door of silverware and promotion in recent years. They have never, however, managed to successfully juggle both codes as deep into the season as they have this year.

They came close in 2020 when the hurlers were beaten finalists and the football beaten semi-finalists. But when the footballers embarked on a run to the concluding day of action last season, they had a clear and uninterrupted path given the hurlers had fallen at the first group hurdle.

And even though the hurlers were two months gone from the championship when last season’s prizes were handed out, players mined as much motivation from their campaign no-show as they did county final disappointment on the football side.

“The aim for both every year is to try and win it,” says football centre-back and hurling centre-forward Paul Ring.

“We knew we were there or thereabouts in football after making the final last year (Kilshannig beat them 1-16 to 0-10). We wanted to get back there straightaway and right the wrongs.

“But in hurling, we had a disappointing year last year. We knew we were better than what we showed. And we wanted to prove that.

“It is great to be in the final in hurling, as well. It probably wasn't as expected as it was football.” 

Aghabullogue are eight games unbeaten across hurling and football. The week-to-week changing of codes when they arrive into training every Tuesday hasn’t been needed to help distract from a setback result the previous Saturday or Sunday. Instead, momentum from one has nourished the other.

No one match has occupied the mind for too long given there is always another fixture of equal or greater importance just over the hill.

In sum, football captain Ring reckons their split focus has been to their advantage.

“I think if you are playing one sport the whole time, you might get a little bit sick of it, or frustrated, or things might not be going right.

“Being involved in both, if you didn't have a particularly good week in hurling or football, you can just park that and focus on the other then for the following week and try to do as best you can at that.”

Ring and his dual teammates hope momentum from one will continue to feed the other. 

It’ll be much easier to prepare for their football date with Mitchelstown off the back of victory this Sunday. The body doesn't take half as long to recover when the result has been to your liking.

“It is obviously a huge thing for any club to make a final. We have been fortunate enough to make a few, but we have yet to win one. To make two in the one year is obviously a huge achievement, especially when you see all the clubs that started out in the different championships.” Now, to go and complete part one.