All-Ireland hurling treble would be fitting chapter in Imokilly's story of Cork dominance
Russell Rovers joint captains Ciaran Sheehan and Eoghan O'Sulivan raise the cup after defeating Kilrossanty in the AIB Munster club junior hurling championship final at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Has there ever been a greater year in the history of Imokilly GAA than its 100th in existence?
The division’s past successes were chronicled in the ‘ ’.
The chapter titles reflect the moments of jubilation and heartbreak down through the years: “1951 – Rare glory day for Sarsfields”, “1968 – Imokilly went so near to winning”, “1974 – Historic triumph for Watergrasshill in junior decider”.
The peak comes towards the tail end: “1997 – Clean sweep of county titles for Imokilly, Cloyne, Castlelyons, and Carrignavar”.
The division’s glory days have only blossomed since then.
In November 2019, an article in charted a “decade of dominance by eastern hurling”. Between 2010 and ’19, the division accounted for 16 county titles including a remarkable eight Senior crowns.
In 2024-25, a clean sweep of All-Ireland Club titles remains on the cards.
Seven of the 10 county finalists were from the Eastern barony. Three of those finals were East Cork derbies.
A clean sweep of Munster triumphs followed.
Sars snapped Ballygunner’s 11-game provincial winning streak with an incredible display. Watergrasshill and Russell Rovers cruised through the lower grades.
Midleton added the U21 A crown to the collection in the past week.
Castlemartyr have already claimed the C title and Youghal could yet make it another clean sweep in Sunday’s B final against Ballinora.
There was also a Junior C victory for Ballinacurra’s footballers, while Fr O’Neills’ second team took the Junior B hurling honours.
Few parishes have gone without some taste of success.
Nine different clubs had starters on Imokilly’s Premier Senior champions. Eleven were represented on the panel.
There was the same spread of nine clubs represented on the Midleton CBS team that captured the Munster U17 A Dean Ryan Cup last month. Their Senior side look well placed heading into January’s Harty Cup quarter-finals.
Ten members of this year’s Cork U20 starting team hailed from the East. With 18 players on the panel, 12 clubs were represented.
In the Cork championships, 14 of the 21 teams competing in the top five grades made the knockout stages. Eleven made the semi-finals, compared to nine from the rest of the county combined.
When selected the 2024 Reardens Hurling Team of the Year, 12 players came from Imokilly or its constituent clubs. Seven were recognised for their divisional exploits while Sars, Fr O’Neills (two each), and Midleton (one) also had players included.
Some Croke Park success would be a magnificent sign-off for their centenary celebrations.
Only one county has ever collected the hat-trick of three All-Ireland Club titles in one year. That was Kilkenny in 2020 when East Cork sides Fr O’Neills and Russell Rovers fell at the final hurdle.
Rovers may face the toughest task to overturn St Lachtain’s in the Junior decider given the Cats’ strong record at the grade but their final experience will help.
The Hill have been ultra-impressive and some of their squad are eyeing a fifth trophy in six months after claiming league, county, and provincial honours on top of the Seán Óg Murphy Cup with Imokilly.
They are likely to face their sternest test since the Cork final up against Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry. The Galway side’s manager Mattie Kenny led Cuala to back-to-back All-Ireland Senior titles.
Sars appear to be classed as underdogs against Na Fianna and the Dubs are indeed packed with inter-county nous and local Croker knowledge.
However, Sars’ scalp of Ballygunner is the strongest piece of form either side have shown all year. The Riverstown club have also inherited a hardened edge and tighter bond through adversity, coping with the loss of their home pitch and some club stalwarts.
It’s fitting their redeveloped grounds will now bear the name of their hero Teddy McCarthy. Some extra silverware would be warmly welcomed ahead of that unveiling in the spring.
The divisional board have already released an updated history as a stocking filler. This season might merit a book all of its own.
App?
