Flashback: Imokilly saw off Sarsfields to win maiden title in 1997

The consecutive All-Ireland U21 titles of 1997 and 1998 are naturally given credit for Cork’s re-emergence in 1999, but another side winning back-to-back in those years also helped to provide a foundation.

Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC final between Imokilly and Sarsfields is a repeat of the 1997 decider, when the East Cork barony, managed by the legendary Seánie O’Leary, claimed the Seán Óg Murphy Cup for the first time.

Having lost the 1996 final to Avondhu after a replay, Imokilly got over the line before a crowd of 15,158 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on October 5.

While Pat Ryan put Sars ahead with a huge free in the opening minute, it was the only time they led. Imokilly, buttressed by a full-back line of Mark Landers, Maurice Cahill and Diarmuid O’Sullivan, soon took control.

As half-time approached, a fine goal from Timmy McCarthy had them 1-8 to 0-7 in front, but Sars responded well as Conor O’Leary netted to leave the minimum between the sides at the break.

Jimmy Smiddy’s placed-ball accuracy helped Imokilly to push further clear on the restart but Ryan, Brian O’Callaghan and John Murphy kept Sars in touch before the divisional side found another gear.

Mick Daly, who had broken even at centre-forward against Teddy McCarthy, came to the fore at midfield as they eased into a seven-point. While Niall Ahern’s late pointed free for Sars was followed by a goal from a dead ball by Ryan – giving him a tally of 1-6 – Imokilly had done enough, triumphing by 1-18 to 2-12.

Ronan Dwane, one of those who would go on to become part of the successful 1999 Cork panel, summed up what it meant.

“The key to this win was our unbelievable desire to make up for last year,” he said.

“A few of us were talking beforehand about how awful it would be to go to the man-of-the-match function the day afterwards as the losing team again.

“We wanted to make sure we weren’t going to be in that scenario. Ever since I was a boy, I used to come up here and see the Glen, the Rockies and the Barrs win. Then, in later years, it was east Cork teams, like Midleton and Erin’s Own.

“I always felt envious and always dreamed some day that it would be us. You have no idea how much this means.”

Scorers for Imokilly: J Smiddy 0-7 (0-5f, 0-1 65), T McCarthy 1-2, S O’Farrell, M Daly, P Cahill 0-2 each.

Sarsfields: P Ryan 1-7 (1-6f), B O’Callaghan 0-3, C O’Leary 1-0, J Murphy, N Ahern (0-1f) 0-1 each.

IMOKILLY: D Óg Cusack (Cloyne); W O’Riordan (Castlelyons), S Barrett (Carrigtwohill), B O’Driscoll (Fr O’Neills); M Landers (Killeagh), M Cahill (Cloyne), D O’Sullivan (Cloyne); D Barrett (Cobh), R Dwane (Aghada); T McCarthy (Castlelyons), M Daly (Cobh), M Downing (Youghal); P Cahill (Cloyne), S O’Farrell (Carrigtwohill), J Smiddy (Castlemartyr). Subs: B Coleman (Youghal) for Downing, D Irwin (Killeagh) for O’Farrell.

SARSFIELDS: T Murphy; B McCarthy, P Smith, P O’Flynn; J Considine, T McCarthy, C McCarthy; P Ryan, T Óg Lynch; P O’Callaghan, B O’Callaghan, J Barry; J Murphy, N Ahern, C O’Leary. Subs: G Murphy for Lynch, S Considine for Barry.

Referee: G Harrington.