Imokilly are a win away from the first club hurling three in a row since 1982

IT was yet again a case of job done for Imokilly at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday as they advanced past St Finbarr’s to stay on course for a third straight Cork SHC title.

Not since the Barrs achieved the feat from 1980-82 has there been a three in a row and, while the East Cork divisional side were in control once they put together an unanswered burst of 1-6 during the first half, manager Fergal Condon was clear that the level of performance was below what his side were capable of.

They will be back at Páirc Uí Rinn next Sunday week to take on Glen Rovers, the last team before Imokilly to win the title, and Condon is keen for an improvement.

“We will have to play better against the Glen, we were slow enough to start,” he said.

“The Glen were very impressive against Carrigtwohill, they had 10 points on the board in a shot, so we will have to be at our best the next day.

“We are looking forward to the final, obviously I’d like to think our fellas are experienced.

Battle:

“But the Glen won the two counties before us, it will be some battle. They are on the road for a long time and they have a great manager in Richie Kelleher, they are very organised.

“He is doing great work in his own club and he will have his homework done on us.”

Goals were decisive on Sunday. Paudie O’Sullivan and Declan Dalton netted in the first half as Imokilly retired with a 2-10 to 0-10 lead and, after the sides broke even in the third quarter, sub Shane O’Regan announced his arrival with a bullet to open up a nine-point advantage.

Condon was pleased with his side’s ability to make such opportunities count and feels that it could be a similar situation in the final.

“With little to go on in terms of past meetings, the focus will be on making the most of their resources.

“We got three great goals,” Condon said.

“Deccie’s one was a bullet. Paudie got one earlier and Shane O’Regan came on and with his second touch he had the ball in the back of the net.

“But, you know, you have to be doing that if you want to be county champions. It is all about who takes those opportunities when they come your way.

“We won’t alter things too much, we will play away to our own strengths.

Life:

“The game will take on a life of its own anyway. We haven’t played the Glen in championship in the last five years, we did play in a challenge game in Blackpool but we haven’t met in championship.

“The final should be a mighty belter.

“The Glen are a very proud club, we would be very well aware of that. You have to give them great credit to get back to another final. My job is, if we can at all, scrape past them.”