Michael Hurley on Castlehaven and potential return to Cork football panel

2023 was a year to remember for many reasons for Michael Hurley.

The sharpshooter was one of the best players for Castlehaven in an unforgettable campaign as they won the top-flight football championship for the first time in ten years after seeing off Nemo Rangers 0-11 to 0-9 in the final last October and over a month later the Munster crown would arrive for the first time since 1997 after overcoming Dingle on penalties in a gripping decider.

“In the wider picture, it has been an amazing season,” Hurley says.

“If you had told anyone of us, players or management, that we would win the county and Munster championships, we would have possibly laughed at you or bitten your hand off. At the moment, the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to St Brigid’s is still a small bit raw, but as I said in the broader picture, we have achieved a lot more than we set out to achieve. An amazing campaign and one that won’t be forgotten.” 

The 27-year-old was held scoreless in the opening group stage match against rivals Carbery Rangers, but kicked 0-18 in the five county championship games after that draw. Incredibly, 0-17 came from play, just one mark, which was against St Finbarr’s in the semi-final, on a day when Hurley landed 0-7 in total.

“When you set your goals at the start of the year, it’s to win as a team, but you would be lying if you said you don’t want to review your own individual performances. It makes it that bit sweeter, it’s a bonus, it’s a cherry on top, but it gives you clarity that all the work you put in all season has worked because you are performing. Whatever I can do for the team, if it’s working hard or kicking the winning score, I am happy to do that. I am delighted to chip in, whatever is required to help the team really and it was unreal to claim Andy Scannell after a ten-year absence.” 

The Haven didn’t rest on their laurels and the provincial crown was won on Sunday, December 10. The team in blue and white looked dead and buried on a couple of occasions, but on an evening when it seemed like the game would never finish, James McCarthy’s charges won an epic final against Dingle on penalties. If winning a Munster championship medal and the hard celebrations that followed weren't ample, four days after the success Hurley got engaged to long-term girlfriend Kate Walsh.

“We could have a 30-minute conversation about all the incidents that happened in the Munster final,” he said.

“The losses over the years allowed us to build a huge resilience in the squad. You just couldn’t write the penalties, a day I’ll never forget. I can remember seeing Larry Tompkins on the pitch after the game and he was crying, that’s when it really hit home for me what we actually did and what kind of day it was.

“If winning the Munster wasn’t good enough, myself and Kate went out to Paris a few days later, and I got a yes, which is what I was hoping for.” 

Hurley hasn’t donned the Rebel geansaí since 2021, and the clamour for his recall has been growing in recent seasons. So will the jinky forward ever play for Cork again?

“Just over two years ago I made a huge decision that some people might have raised eyebrows at,” Hurley says.

“It was a personal decision, nothing to do with any management or players. A personal decision that I believed was for myself, a selfish call, but it had to be made. I think the success with the club last season has taught me that it was possibly the right decision. At the moment, I am very happy playing my football with Castlehaven and we will see where that takes me. It all comes back to enjoyment, I have just had the most enjoyable year of my footballing career so far.

“The Cork manager is obviously from Castlehaven, I have a great relationship with John Cleary. He did say to me recently that the door was open if I wanted to join the panel. But, I am happy out with Castlehaven at the moment.”