'We'll fly the flag as high as we can for the GAA side of the house': Bandon keen to deliver IAHC crown
READY FOR BATTLE: Bandon manager Joe Burke. Pic: Jim Coughlan.
It's not that long ago that Bandon were competing in the knockout stages of the Senior A grade in both codes.
Their fall from that lofty 2020 plateau was swift.
It was a downward spiral that meant, by 2024, they were battling to regain a foothold in Cork hurling's fourth tier, Intermediate A, and by 2026, their football would be played at the same grade after Macroom condemned them to relegation the previous year.
The hurling went significantly better last year. With that slide arrested, Joe Burke's men would find themselves in the decider and minutes from landing the Intermediate A crown, only for Aghabullogue and Matthew Bradley's accuracy late on.
Twelve months later and they're back at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. This time, having overcome Midleton in the semi-final, it's Aghada who stand in their way.
For a sports-mad town like Bandon, stopping the GAA relegation rot is one thing, but getting their hands on silverware is another. The Bandon side prepping for their IAHC final clash with Aghada recognise the importance of their role in giving youngsters something to look towards and strive for.
"Look, there's a lot of sport in the town, and there's a lot of competition in the town," manager Burke said. "We're always striving to compete with all these other sports.
"It's great that we're in the final, knowing that there is excitement amongst the youngsters there to get involved and we hope that more kids get involved in the GAA. We just hope that we're doing something that the kids aspire to do in years to come."
So, with Lilywhite-clad Bandon supporters, both young and old, set to descend upon the Páirc on Saturday, has that devastating November Sunday last year been a motivating factor, or even a reference point as Burke's charges worked their way back?
"No, last year was last year. We came up short and it's just one of those things, that's sport," insisted Burke.
Not without fuss, but a group including local rivals Kilbrittain was navigated to the point that they earned direct passage to the semi-final.
Burke and co. would've taken any route out of the group stages. As such, they treated the group and knockouts as two separate competitions.
"We just set out our stall like every other club at the start of the competition," he said. "Everyone's aim is just to get out of the group. No matter how you do it, just get out. If you end up in the quarter-final or semi-final or whatever, that was our second competition."
That progression has led the Lilywhites back to the verge of a Premier Intermediate return; it's exactly where they want to be.
"Despite last year's defeat, the squad's attitude never changed, in fairness to them," Burke said. "They came back and we're delighted with them, we're just happy to be in the final. We're under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task ahead.
"Aghada are a really good team. We'll just have to be at our very, very best to get over the line."
The significance of making good on Saturday's chance is not lost on Burke.
While youngsters are continuously encouraged to play as many sports as they can, the sight of this Bandon side climbing the South Stand of the Páirc as winners would represent a significant boost to GAA in the town, as illustrated by Burke.
"I'm involved in some underage teams here in the club as well and we encourage the kids to play every sport, and they'll eventually have to pick one or two.
"It's great that we're at the end of October now, and we're still involved, and the GAA club is still fighting for honours.
"There is big excitement amongst the kids, but the kids will play all their sports and try and excel at all of them. We'd like to fly the flag as high as we can for the GAA side of the house."
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