Croker calling for Russell Rovers, Watergrasshill and Sars
Russell Rovers' Brian Harnett racing away from Kilrossanty's Caoimhin Walsh to score a goal at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The Cork hurling version of the Bermuda Triangle will invade Croke Park over the next fortnight, with the three clubs that form the vertices of this geographical triangle all hoping that these visits will mark the proudest days in their history.
Draw a line from Glanmire up to Watergrasshill and then turn sharply right and trace a longer one down past Lisgoold, Carrigtwohill and Midleton until you reach Shanagarry. At that point turn back towards Cloyne and bi-pass Glounthane until you find yourself back in the home of Sarsfields in Glanmire.
Should Russell Rovers, Watergrasshill and Sarsfields all win their respective All-Ireland Junior, Intermediate and Senior All-Ireland club finals at Croke Park over the next two weekends then all the national club hurling crowns will reside in this region of the Imokilly barony.
That would be some going for such a small geographical area.
Cork junior kingpins Russell Rovers will be first up, when they face off against Kilkenny side St Lachtain’s at 12.30pm next Sunday. The Shanagarry side have been here before, and that should be an advantage.
They lost the 2020 renewal to Kilkenny side Conahy Shamrocks by 0-22 to 0-15, but in reality, they were hanging on and chasing the game for most of that tie.
They will want to get in the ascendancy early this time around and ensure that their attack of Brian Hartnett, Josh Beausang and Ciarán Sheehan get the supply they require to do damage. If they get plenty ball then Russell Rovers have a superb chance.
Watergrasshill will then face Tynagh Abbey Duniry from Galway at 2.30pm, where they will hopefully run out into the Croke Park amphitheatre to the soundtrack of celebrating Cork accents from the other end of the triangle.
The Galway side qualified for this final thanks to a 2-19 to 2-11 over Leinster champions Rathnure, although the Wexford side played almost the entire game down a man after having a man sent off soon after the throw-in. Rathnure persisted with a sweeper, so scoring 2-11 with just one inside forward should encourage Eddie Enright’s charges.
They managed 1-20 in their impressive Munster final triumph over Cashel King Cormacs, with 1-12 of that total coming from the striking of Murphy, and they bettered that when defeating Antrim outfit Carey Faughs in the All-Ireland semi-final in mid-December on a scoreline of 1-21 to 0-8.
Sarsfields are an unlikely senior finalist, but then so too are Dublin’s Na Fianna. It is a wonderful opportunity for both clubs to add the ultimate hurling silverware to their honours list.
The Glasnevin based since only cracked the Dublin championship for the first time in 2023, so they are in real bonus territory now after retaining their county crown and adding the Leinster title to it with their win over Offaly’s Kilcormac-Killoughney in late November.
While Sars will be confident that they have an attack that can hurt the north Dubs Na Fianna will also be of the opinion that they have players who can do damage too. Colin Currie is obviously a top-class free taker if he has got the gig over Dónal Burke to be their dead-ball striker, and the likes of AJ Murphy, Jack Meagher and Ciaran Stacey can also all take scores.
Achieve that, and they will be a long way towards achieving their goal.
Cork hurling fans already saw their year begin on a positive note as Cork defeated Waterford by eight in testing conditions in Dungarvan on Saturday in a match that was in aid of the Friends of Brian Greene and Waterford Hospice.
The conditions made the second half a bit of a lottery but they had just about been decent enough in the opening hour for Cork to show their class, with Pádraig Power’s brilliantly improvised assist for Declan Dalton’s batted goal being the highlight.
Hopefully it will not be the only Cork hurling highlight this month.
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