Imokilly brand created production line of gifted young hurlers

Imokilly have won a fourth county title in eight years with a regenerated team. There’s no reason to think they won’t remain a force for some time to come.

When Imokilly emerged in the middle of the last decade with a team that would go on to win three in a row, they were turbocharged by a crop of rising stars that included Declan Dalton, Niall O’Leary, and Ger Millerick.

Those players helped to elevate their clubs into the senior grades, leaving their divisional days behind, but an experienced spine remained in Séamus Harnedy, Bill Cooper, Brian Lawton, Ciarán O’Brien, and John Cronin. 

It wasn’t long before a new generation emerged to join them.

While the past two years ended in defeats after penalties against Blackrock in 2022 and extra-time against Sarsfields in 2023, the seeds were being planted for an East Cork evolution.

When Denis Ring was appointed in 2022, he spoke about how an “Imokilly brand” had been created, with young players aspiring to play with their division. 

That year, Ciarán Joyce, Jack Leahy, Diarmuid Healy, Seán Desmond, and Eoin Davis broke through. Timmy Wilk and Dáire O’Leary came into the team in 2023. Adam Murphy has emerged in 2024.

They have quickly become key cogs. Leahy, Desmond, and Davis have played in every game in the past three seasons, a feat only matched by defensive anchor Mike Russell. 

It’s an especially impressive accomplishment given the juggling act when club action frequently doubles up with divisional duties.

This year, Wilk and O’Leary played every minute in defence. On top of their club training, it takes some dedication for players to give up their Monday evenings and spare weekends to their division.

The age profile remains nicely distributed. Leahy, Healy, and Wilk were Cork U20s this year and will be eyeing a senior breakthrough in time. Joyce, Desmond, and O’Leary won an U20 All-Ireland together in 2021. Davis joined them in that honour in 2020.

SHARPSHOOTERS

Leahy took over free-taking duties for Imokilly this year and stitched 3-44 in five games, including 3-15 from play. He was named Man of the Match in the final. Desmond is next in the scoring charts with 2-12. 

Murphy got the all-important goal against Sars to take his season’s contribution to 2-8. 

Healy (0-10) and O’Leary (1-7) have also scored consistently. Davis landed long-range frees in the semi-final and final to go with his three clean sheets.

“There’s a big group of players since that three in a row a few years ago and they were a real driving factor. They’re what drive you to play for Imokilly,” said Leahy in the aftermath of Sunday’s success.

“When we regrouped this year, the first thing we said was we haven’t lost in normal time the last two years. We wanted to right the wrongs and get over the line.” 

They have adapted without their Fr O’Neill's and Castlelyons cohorts over the years. This year, they knitted together players from nine different clubs in the starting team.

Cloyne’s relegation will provide extra competition and depth among the panel next year, even if Watergrasshill manage to navigate past Mallow and Carrigaline and reach senior status.

Ring previously trained Imokilly for one season back in 2003. He said last week: “It was nothing really like it is now in terms of the consistency or the buy-in. Back then, it was quite random as to when you might have them.” 

That piecemeal preparation doesn’t compare to the current methodical approach which makes success more sustainable.

The health of Imokilly hurling is underlined up and down the grades. An Erin’s Own-Lisgoold final guarantees the Intermediate A trophy will head East for a third time in four years. 

A Russell Rovers-St Catherine’s decider at Premier Junior level means the fifth-tier title will be heading the same direction for a fourth time in five years. The Junior A crown has been won by the Jamesy Kelleher holders six times in the past decade.

DOMINANT

Speaking of this year’s Cork U20 starting XV, 10 originate from East Cork, even if the majority are supplied by senior clubs.

An Echo analysis in November 2019 was headlined a “decade of dominance by eastern hurling”. 

It noted the 25 inter-county players contributed to the Cork squad and 16 county titles hoarded. On the latter point, the next best performing divisions were Avondhu and Carrigdhoun with five apiece.

The landscape has changed since then. There’s a new championship format and more trophies to play for. 

The city giants have made their glorious breakthroughs. But between club and barony, East Cork supremacy remains the overarching trend.