Harnedy's hidden motivation to end difficult year with glory

Seamus Harnedy on loss, community and his Cork future

Imokilly captain Ciaran O'Brien and Seamus Harnedy after defeating Sarsfields in the Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

For Seamus Harnedy, a smiling finish to a season that otherwise took far more than gave.

Harnedy's preparation for Sunday's Cork Premier decider was to lose an East Cork junior semi-final the Saturday previous. His beloved St Ita's, chasing only their second East Cork crown in the sixth tier of Cork hurling, fell to Carraig na bhFear by the minimum.

Go back to July and Harnedy, this time in red, was on the wrong side of another one-point thriller.

Both defeats, mind, pale in total significance to the devastating loss suffered off the field at the beginning of summer.

It was a loss that meant the first person Harnedy sought out at Sunday's full-time whistle was his Ita's and Imokilly colleague Ciarán O'Brien. Also embraced was Ciarán’s brother, Darragh, who was unable to tog for the division because of a knee injury picked up on club duty the Saturday previous.

“We had a hidden motivation there. Ciarán is after a very, very, very tough year, and it was as much to do it for him and the locality and the community as everything else,” said Harnedy, in reference to the passing of Ciaran's mother, Caroline.

“She would have been very important to the club at home, she has three boys on that team. They're neighbours of mine and I’ve been around them all my life. They’re incredibly good lads and great servants of the club, and of Imokilly as well.

“Ciaran being captain was absolutely sweet. I hope she was very proud of him. I know she would be. That’s why he was a small bit emotional and he was right to be.

“She was an important person, not only to the three boys, but to the community as well. She was battling illness (cancer) for a number of years, but she never stopped supporting us. She was always there, and she was brilliant for the club and a brilliant supporter of Imokilly, as well, over the years.” 

After grief and gutting defeats, Sunday's glory brought a smidgen of solace.

“It’s been a tough few weeks for Ita’s, we lost by a point last week. And then obviously the All-Ireland final, we lost by a point after extra-time. That’s a tough occasion to be a part of as well.

“But look, that’s part of sport. There are highs and lows. This is a nice way to sign off the year.” 

Harnedy was chatting in the South Stand tunnel. He had earlier gone back down the same tunnel disgusted with his first-half anonymity. He wasn’t the sole member of Denis Ring’s crew guilty of such. Aside from Ciarán Joyce, Imokilly’s wealth of riches weren't sparkling.

Harnedy's roaring second-half performance, which included back-to-back points to help undo Sars’ first-half body of work, was a necessary contribution for a division that put him in the shop window over a decade ago now.

“To have the opportunity, from a junior club like St Ita’s, to play in the senior championship is an honour for me. I remember back when I was only 22, 23, on the periphery of the Cork squad, and Imokilly was probably my opportunity to push on and try to get on to the Cork squad.

“We haven’t been back here since 2019. After winning in 2017 and 18, you think you might get the opportunity to be here every year, but it’s been a long time, five years. We’re really thrilled.” 

A smiling finish to a long year. The 34-year-old is looking forward to switching off for a spell.

“Even though the All-Ireland final didn't go our way, the journey with Cork was unbelievable. So look, it's always good when you're hurling at this time of the year. It's something to savour. You want to be in these occasions.” 

And can we expect to see him back for a 13th season in red next January? Certainly, there are no question marks over his fitness or form. An inevitable third All-Star in the next fortnight will reaffirm such.

“I'm just going to rest up now and give the body a bit of a break. I'll chat to Pat and the management team then at a later point,” Harnedy replied to questions over his inter-county future.

“But look, I really enjoyed it this year. Pat created an unbelievable environment. It was very easy there after the first two games of the year to throw the toys out of the cot and everyone turn on each other, but he kept the ship really unified. He's an outstanding manager and he's a great career ahead of himself in management.” 

One would guess that Harnedy’s career has another bit to run yet too.