IAHC: Aghabullogue hoping to create new history

AGHABULLOGUE will head into this weekend’s Co-Op SuperStores IAHC final hoping to add another trophy to their glorious past.

The team in green and white claimed the first All-Ireland for the Rebel County in 1890, in what was a special season for the club having won the Cork SHC and Munster championship before claiming the All-Ireland prize.

The Mid-Cork club will be favourites to overcome the challenge of Midleton’s second team this Sunday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm. The vibrant village of Coachford and surrounding areas will be empty as they make the relatively short trip to the Páirc as the club aim for a first adult hurling championship title at first-team level since they won the County JAHC in 1991, when they beat Aghada in the final after a replay. 

Since then, there hasn’t been too much to shout about from a hurling perspective for the green and white. The restructuring of the grades in 2004 resulted in Aghabullogue moving up to premier intermediate level where they stayed until their demotion in 2012 following defeat to Watergrasshill in the relegation play-off. It gave the club a chance to reset with the squad about to go into a transition period.

The first year down in the lower intermediate grade saw Aghabullogue flirt with relegation, a five-point win over Dromina meant there would be no back-to-back demotions. 2014 saw Aghabullogue reach the quarter-finals, but were well beaten by eventual winners Charleville. It wouldn’t be a springboard to push on as another challenging campaign would arrive in 2015 when the Mid-Cork club won a nervy relegation play-off encounter against Barryroe, 2-11 to 1-11.

For the next three seasons, advancing to the business end proved elusive until Aghabullogue reached the last four in 2019, spurred on by a young fearless team with the likes of Shane Tarrant, Matthew Bradley, Niall Barry Murphy and Paul Ring backboning the team. Defeat would follow to Blackrock’s second team in that semi-final as it finished 1-18 to 1-15, but there was a sense the team were on the right road after being in the doldrums for too long.

The Coachford outfit were starting to see tangible progress, with the young players from the successful underage teams mixed in with experienced players proving wonders. Finbarr Foley, Denis Quinlan and Paudie Twomey added leadership and the 2020 season, the first campaign under the current championship format, saw Aghabullogue go all the way to the final where they played next door neighbours Éire Óg. Aghabullogue won all three group-stage games against rivals Cloughduv and second strings Glen Rovers and Midleton.

A two-point win over Mayfield in the quarter-finals and then an excellent performance against Kildorrery in the last four had the team in green and white purring. That 1-25 to 2-13 success over Kildorrery was an eye-catching one played at the end of September in 2020. But, the momentum and buzz was about to be halted as the much eagerly anticipated final wouldn’t be played until August 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When it did come around, only 500 people were allowed in Páirc Uí Chaoimh due to the restrictions at the time. It was no surprise the demand for tickets was through the roof and the lucky ones who were inside the Páirc witnessed a cracker as Éire Óg won narrowly, 2-16 to 1-17. It was a game Aghabullogue could have very easily won. 

A quarter-final exit to Cloughduv in 2021, and not even qualifying out of the group-stages last season, would have rankled with Aghabullogue, but there has been something different about them in 2023 which has them 60 minutes from glory this weekend.

Northsider Micheál McGrath, brother of former Cork hurler Seánie, was appointed manager at the start of the season and his calming presence has proved effective. Aghabullogue topped a difficult championship group ahead of Lisgoold, Aghada and Youghal, which secured a semi-final spot. Despite trailing at half-time, the Mid-Cork club came good in the second-half to defeat Mayfield, 0-17 to 0-11 in the last four.

So, it all comes down to Sunday. The hurling heroes of the past are still being talked about around Aghabullogue. The club will be hoping the class of 2023 will be added to the list. It won’t be an easy final against Midleton’s second team, but the hurt from the 2020 final defeat and the nice mix of youth and experience should give the Muskerry side every chance of a first title at this grade since 1910.

They will hope it's part one of a double, with the club also in the IAFC final against Mitchelstown.

One of Cork’s historic clubs are stirring again.