Imokilly v Sarsfields: Divisional side's journey has deepened their bond, says captain Ciarán O'Brien

Imokilly captain Ciarán O’Brien actually played football for the division before he lined out in hurling.

In 2012, the St Ita’s man was a Cork minor hurler and also received the call to line out for the East Cork barony in football. While they suffered a 1-20 to 0-5 loss to Muskerry, it was an educational experience when he was selected for the hurlers against Cork IT a year later.

“The first day, it was a surprise that I was playing,” he says.

“I was part of the Cork minor squad the year before, which definitely helped me to make the step up.

“The year before, as well, I played with the Imokilly footballers – we got a whipping the same day against Muskerry!

“It wasn’t a great day for us but it did help as you found out that that was the physicality of it and stuff like that.”

After beating CIT in 2013, Imokilly lost to UCC; then in 2014, they were beaten by Carbery in their only championship outing.

A breakthrough was made in 2015, reaching the quarter-finals and losing to reigning champions Sarsfields and the following year they were on the verge of making the last eight only to concede a last-minute goal to Erin’s Own.

As disappointing as the near misses were, foundations were being laid for the three consecutive titles of 2017-19.

“They were tough to take because you’re saying to yourself, ‘Are we ever going to kick on?’” O’Brien says.

“Even with all those days, we were still building and finding out a small bit more about ourselves.

“Even just the group, being together for another year or two.”

While the change in the gradings for the county championships for 2020, and the creation of the senior A grade, removed some of Imokilly’s options, they have come strongly again.

After narrow quarter-final defeats to Glen Rovers and Blackrock in 2021 and 2022 respectively, they made the semis last year, losing to Sarsfields after extra time, having conceded an injury-time goal with victory in sight.

Now, a rematch with the Riverstown side awaits, with Avondhu, Muskerry and Fr O’Neills seen off before an impressive victory over Blackrock in the last four.

The 1-29 to 1-20 winning tally showed the quality across the team.

“The 1-29, a lot of it obviously is down to the forwards,” O’Brien says.

“We know back the field that if we can hold our own and get good ball in, they’re a quality unit with a couple of good lads coming in off the bench too.

“It’s very tough to get a handle on them – they’ve been working together the last year or two so they’re used to each other’s movements and making runs off each other.

“Denis is brilliant that way, too; he’d be encouraging them to work each other in training so that they become more familiar with each other.

“It’s the same with us in defence. He gives us roles challenges us to make sure that we’re up to the championship standard.”

And, while he won’t have a speech ready, O’Brien is honoured to be captaining such a group.

“I was definitely surprised to be askeda,” he says.

“You have captains from 1-15 out there but the fact that I got it, was delighted.”