Inniscarra ready for the biggest game in their football history

It might be a surprise for many, but Inniscarra have richly deserved their place in this weekend’s McCarthy Insurance Group County JAFC decider.

The Muskerry side have real momentum behind them going into Sunday’s final against Ballygarvan in Páirc Uí Rinn at 3pm. They defeated a fancied Aghinagh side in the Mid-Cork JAFC final after a replay, which was their first crown since 1989. The team in blue and white then got the better of Castlemagner and Kilmacabea in the county section to reach the showdown.

For Scarra boss Daire Holland, reaching the decider has been a culmination of hard work over the last few years. He has a shrewd management team with him with John O’Shea, Eugune O’Sullivan and Jonathan Olden selectors. Alan Sheehan is the stats man.

“We as a management group got involved before the 2022 season,” he says.

“At the same time, Paul McCarthy was with the hurlers and we sat down and came up with a plan to accommodate the footballers and hurlers who wanted to do both. It worked well for the hurlers who won the county that year. We reached the Mid-Cork semi-final that season and got to the Mid-Cork final last year, beaten by Canovee, so we felt we were making progress.

“The same template has been used in this campaign and while we might be recognised as a hurling club, we felt that lads who wanted to play both, needed to be given the opportunity to play both. That’s why we got involved. Did we think Inniscarra would reach the county final? Absolutely not. But, we will embrace this now and make the most of it.” 

Inniscarra have never won the County JAFC. It would mean the world to that part of Muskerry if they got over the line on Sunday, but Ballygarvan will be difficult to beat. 

“Ballygarvan will be a formidable challenge. They came through a tough campaign in Carrigdhoun. They defeated a decent Castlemartyr team the last day. No different to ourselves, they will look to seize this opportunity of moving up the ladder.

“We will take the confidence from our previous outings and we will see where it takes us. If we wake up Monday morning and we are still in Mid-Cork, it’s an awful long way back to the county final. We want to drive on now and make the most of this opportunity and get over the line.” Holland concluded.