Carraig na bhFear off to positive start as they aim for back-to-back JAHC titles

Reigning champions Carraig na bhFear made a flying start with an impressive win over Killeagh in Dungourney last Sunday in the East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship.

For a Killeagh side that featured players who were playing Senior A championship last year like goalkeeper Philip O’Neill and wing-back George Walsh Wallace, Carraig were arguably underdogs going into this one, especially given their absentees, with Oisin Crowley and Michael Ahearne away, while Brendan Murphy and Billy Connolly were out injured.

To make matters even more difficult for Carraig na bhFear – Killeagh also had their pair of rising stars in Ben and Barry Walsh, who have played together for club, school and county.

Carraig came away victorious – and for captain Paul Sheehan, it was integral the team got off on the right foot if they are to have any chance of repeating the highs of last season, which proved to be a massive boost to the club.

OVER THE LINE

“To be honest it was massive,” Paul begins. “It was 2012 when we last won the East Cork, so there were very few players from that team still involved and we've come close many a time since 2019 and we couldn't ever get over the line.

“So that win was massive for us. It’s something we needed, like we were getting to finals and we couldn't get over the line really.

“It was just kind of something that could have been playing on our mind a small bit, but to really get over it was a huge relief for ourselves and for the parish itself.

I suppose after we won the East Cork we would have hoped we'd have a great chance of getting promoted. 

"We knew the battle was going to be tough against Harbour Rovers. They just came out very strong in the second-half, and we just couldn't get to the pace of it,” he explains. “That was it, they were the better team on the day.” 

While their county championship run ended in disappointment last year, they’re certainly capable of back-to-back Jamesy Kelleher Cups, and maybe even that extra step in 2024.

But there’re still two more group games to come, a test against Bride Rovers’ second team who beat Carrigtwohill on Monday, followed by the aforementioned Carrigtwohill in September.

For the three time East Cork Junior A Championship winners, being the only first team in the group may feel like a boost – but O’Brien feels it does increase the stakes.

“It puts more pressure under us, because you feel as you are the first team, that's a second team you should be beating. But some of those second teams are very strong on paper, especially with the change in rule that anyone under 18 can’t play above Junior A.

Killeagh are very strong, and Sars and Midleton, so they'll be as good as any team out there to play this year.

While the new format ensures the groups will be tougher – it also gives you a bit of breathing room, something that Killeagh, St Ita’s, Midleton and Carrigtwohill will all hope to take advantage of.

“I suppose what it means is that you have a chance to make a mistake along the way,” Darragh says. “It just means that every game isn't as crucial. Three teams will get out, so you have a chance, you have an opportunity, even if you do make a mistake, to recover and progress still.”