IAHC: History still on the cards for Erin's Own's second team

Erin’s Own are still on course for a third consecutive county hurling crown.

No, it’s not their first team, but incredibly their second string who have largely come from nowhere in recent seasons to now being potentially two games away from reaching the third grade of Cork hurling, the Premier Intermediate Hurling grade.

The big breakthrough came in 2022 when the Imokilly side defeated a strong Kilshannig outfit in the County JAHC decider after a replay. Last year, Erin’s Own got the better of St Catherine’s in the final of the Premier Junior.

This Saturday night, there will be a second team in the final as Erin’s Own second string meet Midleton’s reserves in the semi-final of the Co-Op SuperStores IAHC in Cobh at 4pm.

Erin's Own manager Brian O’Shea took over the second team before the start of last year, and he hasn’t done a bad job to date since replacing Eoghan O’Connor, who bowed out on a high after the County JAHC success two years ago.

“Look, we are a second team who are constantly in transition,” O'Shea says.

“From where we were at the end of last year, seven players are no longer part of our panel, three or four of them have been with the senior squad this year and have played games with them. Three lads went travelling and Shane Murphy retired, who we coaxed into coming on board as a selector with us this season.

“We spent the first phase of this year getting lads up to the pace, trying guys in new positions and so on, so we are happy with how things have worked out in that regard. We have been taking it one game at a time. I know it’s a desperate cliché, but it’s something that has worked with what is a largely young team.” 

Keeping the players feet firmly on the ground can be a difficult task, but by the sounds of it, doing so is relatively easy. A second team winning a third straight county title would be a first on Leeside.

“This group is as much about developing players and making sure there is a bigger pool for the senior team in years to come,” O'Shea said.

“We have the pleasure of currently having the likes of Alan Bowen, Kieran ‘Hero’ Murphy and Stephen Cronin on the panel, so there are guys stepping back and bringing that senior experience and wisdom into our youthful dressing room. They are educating and handing the baton over to the younger guys and it’s really helping the group. They are keeping the team grounded.” 

Why has it all come together for Erin’s Own’s second team over the last few years?

“It’s an amateur sport, but when the lads come up to the pitch, they get enjoyment out of it,” says the boss of the second team.

“The players are competitive people. There is a young group of players coming through who are ambitious and want to push on. Between the two things, it has worked well for us in recent years. Having good communication with the management of the first team is also vital. We are all working together for the good of the club.”