'Every one of the three teams would like to do their bit for Cork'

Russell Rovers kick off an All-Ireland hat-trick bid for Cork and Imokilly clubs on Sunday at Croke Park

Sat, 11 Jan, 2025 - 06:10

Therese O’Callaghan

Russell Rovers and St Lachtain’s kickstart a very busy couple of weekends of All-Ireland club hurling championship finals when they contest the junior decider in Croke Park on Sunday (12.30pm). This is followed by the intermediate clash between Watergrasshill and Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry (2.30pm). Seven days later, it’s Sarsfields and Na Fianna at senior level.

All three Rebel representatives are from the east Cork division.

Russell Rovers competed in the final five years ago when two-thirds of the present team were unsuccessful against Conahy Shamrocks (0-22 to 0-15).

Once more, the opposition is from Kilkenny, this time it’s Freshford.

Russell Rovers manager Dave Dorgan is familiar with the big day.

“I was there with Fr O’Neill’s in 2006 (defeated Erin’s Own, Carlow in junior final), I’ve seen it from a player’s perspective. I was involved with Castlelyons last year in the backroom team, so I see it from that perspective as well (fell to Thomastown in intermediate final).

“It’s a unique experience but at the same time there is a game to be won. You can’t lose sight of the fact that, regardless of the surroundings and the occasion, there is a game to be won there. That is the main objective.

“St Lachtain’s are a typical Kilkenny team, they’re strong, they’re physical, they’re all good hurlers. It’s a big ask, they’ll be the best team we’ve played all year. It’s what you’d expect from any Kilkenny team. Go back on the history of the different grades and every year there is nearly a Kilkenny team in there. They’re there for a reason, they’re all good teams.”

Dorgan, who has Dónal Óg Cusack with him as coach, says the primary aim was to win the Cork Premier junior championship. When the St Catherine’s box was ticked, they moved on to Munster.

“The main goal was obviously the county and once you get beyond that you’re dreaming of a chance to play in Croke Park and now we have that to look forward to. That was ultimately our main objective for the year was to win the grade and go up intermediate. Absolutely, that was the big event for us.

“Each team in Munster had its threats. You are trying to get yourself out of the county final and back into the rhythm of things. It was a challenge for each round to raise the ask and the need to find another level. That’s what we’ve been able to do so far.

“Our first game was in Midleton (Moyle Rovers), that was in east Cork and it was a chance for the Imokilly division to support a local team. And with Páirc Uí Rinn (Kilrossanty), you are staying close to home and we had played in Páirc Uí Rinn before.”

Their most recent triumph came in the form of a 16-point All-Ireland semi-final victory over Ballinascreen in mid-December.

“We’ve played a lot of games over the course of the year and everybody’s contributing to that so we’re in a position if somebody is missing or we’re down a body which we have been at different stages during the year, somebody is ready to jump in and that has been good so far. The challenge gets higher and gets bigger and we need everybody.

“We got a bit of a break after the semi-final but you can’t leave that too long either, the final comes up pretty quickly after Christmas. We got a bit of down time but got back at it because it is quickly upon you.

“The weather has changed significantly in the last week too with rain and now the freezing part. It’s definitely a different time of the year to be playing hurling. But at the same time, guys have kept their focus, they’ve trained hard and they’ve trained well. We are as ready as we can be now really.

“The Astro was a big help. They did work on the main field as well by widening it, so for a big part of last year it wasn’t available. I think our first game on the field was May 18, so the astro helped obviously, and through the winter as well, it is a massive, massive help.”

As outlined at the beginning, this is a special time for Cork hurling and an opportunity all three would love to take. Not many club teams get a chance to play at GAA headquarters twice, so the Ballycotton, Shanagarry, Garryvoe and Churchtown south outfit will hope previous experience stands to them.

“Every one of the three teams would like to do their bit for Cork, having a chance to put your best foot forward,” Dorgan says.

“Like ourselves, I’d love to see Watergrasshill and Sars be successful as well. It just shows how strong Imokilly hurling is that you have three clubs up there.”