'It's no harm to remind people that there are hurlers down in west Cork as well': Kilbrittain boss Ryan

Kilbrittain won their first provincial title on Saturday afternoon after defeating Waterford outfit Kilrossanty in the AIB Munster Club JHC final at Mallow.

Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan with Bertie Butler after their win over Kilrossanty in the AIB Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship final at Mallow. Pic: Dan Linehan

Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan has described his side’s latest performance as the best of the year as they claimed silverware.

The West Cork club won their first provincial title on Saturday afternoon after defeating Waterford outfit Kilrossanty in the AIB Munster Club JHC final at Mallow.

Kilbrittain won easily enough in the end on a scoreline of 2-17 to 0-9. The remarkable campaign keeps on going for the black and amber.

“It's incredible really, I'm just delighted the players performed like that, it was some performance to play like that in a final,” he said post-match.

“Kilrossanty are a good team to be fair. We kind of had our homework done on them and the way they set up. They had their homework done on us too.

“But I couldn't really ask for much more from the players. If you look at the spread of scorers, we had a nice spread from all over the pitch.

“We were kind of shooting from further out because they had a sweeper. I must say, it was as good a team performance that we've had all year.” 

Kilbrittain haven’t just made history for themselves, but they have also made history for their division. They are the first team from Carbery to win a Munster hurling title.

“You look at ourselves this year and then Bandon, who were unlucky in the Intermediate A final, it would have been great to have two counties coming back to West Cork.

“In saying that, it's no harm to remind people that there are hurlers down in West Cork as well.

“It's great for us to achieve what we have achieved so far. I mean, the pitch here is crowded now and there were three buses that came up from Kilbrittain separate even to the players' bus this morning. So look, it's an occasion.

Kilbrittain captain Philip Wall and Aaron Holland celebrate. Pic: Dan Linehan

“You've kids running around. They have great memories now and you've got the kind of older people in the club making new memories as well. Long may it last.

“We have been very tight as a community this year. Oisín Gillain’s passing at the start of the year, it kind of put everything into perspective and everyone kind of rallied around each other from that point on.

“Oisín has been with us every step of the way and he's part of the group.” 

The Kilbrittain boss, who is in his first season at the helm, will soon focus on the next target, which will be an All-Ireland semi-final against the Leinster winners, Clane or Davidstown-Courtnacuddy.

“I think it’s important to celebrate this and we will for a few days. I’ve said it in interviews before this game that genuinely the lads spoke before the game and they wanted to win today to get the opportunity to meet up again on Tuesday and train. It just happened to be a Munster final and we did treat it like any other game.

“So, all credit to the players. On reflection, we might give the players an extra day or two off and we might get back training on Thursday or Friday.”