Castlelyons selector Brendan Hoare: We have finally got over the line, that's about the size of it

CASTLELYONS have finally done it. 

After suffering heartbreak in the final in 2020 and again in 2021, and narrowly losing the semi-final to Castlemartyr in 2022, it could have been easy for the East-Cork side to feel sorry for themselves heading into this season.

But, with the enlisting of Noel Furlong as manager as well as the younger players stepping up, Castlelyons have finally won the county following their 0-19 to 0-17 success over Kilworth in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC decider at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t looking good for large parts of the game for the eventual winners, Castlelyons trailed 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time, 0-11 to 0-7 after 33 minutes, and even after 48 minutes, Kilworth led 0-15 to 0-12. 

A replay looked a possibility with the teams level in injury-time, but points from Alan Fenton, which was a free, and an Anthony Spillane effort, nudged the green and gold over the line. Castlelyons selector Brendan Hoare was full of relief speaking after an exciting game of hurling.

“We have finally got over the line, that’s about the size of it,” says Hoare.

“It wasn’t looking likely for large parts of the game to be honest. We dug in there, we showed our never say die attitude and got over the line. Even when we weren’t playing well, we never allowed Kilworth to get ahead of us by a large margin, there was always a couple of points between the teams. We were down by two points at the break and we were delighted going into the dressing room, we improved in the second-half, but it took us until injury-time to win the game.” 

It was a surprise given their recent final appearances that Castlelyons were slow out of the blocks, as Kilworth led 0-3 to 0-0 after six minutes. Hoare and the rest of the Castlelyons management team were surprised themselves that the start was so ponderous.  

“I am actually not sure why we were so slow to get to grips with the encounter as we have been here before. I wouldn’t say the occasion was a factor or anything like that, but to be fair to Kilworth they have had brilliant starts in a few of their games this season and built up huge leads so that’s why we were happy at half-time to be firmly in the match because it could have been much worse if they had a bigger advantage.”

Once the full-time whistle blew, there was naturally great celebrations from Castlelyons as the recent final heartbreaks were banished.

“Relief was the first emotion when the referee blew the final whistle,” says the Castlelyons selector.

“We were well aware people had us as the favourites for the championship, but unfortunately that doesn’t get you to a final. It’s so sweet to finally win the county. I am delighted more so for the older lads. I celebrated with my fellow selector John Healy first as he was right next to me, it was an incredible feeling. The celebrations were outstanding and richly deserved. We had suffered enough out on that pitch.” 

It's sure to be a wild week below in Castlelyons as they can look forward to senior A hurling in 2024.

“This week will be on another level altogether. We might push the video analysis review back a few days.”