Watergrasshill managed Eddie Enright glad that the ball fell to Seán Desmond

Watergrasshill manager Eddie Enright might not have been watching when the ball broke kindly for Seán Desmond, but he was delighted that the right man had possession for what proved to be the game’s defining moment.

“Yeah, he's a finisher, simple as,” Enright said of the Hill captain.

“Who do you want there at the end? Seánie would be one of those players you'd like to have that chance, and what a finish.

“I was actually looking the other way. There was a free man down the other side, so I was delighted to see him in behind the defence at that time. Definitely stick it at that point.”

The win was yet another example of the Hill coming out on the right side of a tight game in a campaign where their mettle was tested on more than one occasion.

“We've worked a lot on training at physicality,” Enright said.

“We've brilliant, skilful players, brilliant speed. It was bringing that physical element to it, that consistent element to it. That is what we've worked on. We have got better as the year went on. We did really well in the Munster championship.

“Today, they [Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry] were really good, as well, so it became a real battle. It is many things that came together this year. I've a very good management team with me and I'm learning from those guys all the time.

“We've 40 guys on the training panel who've bought into it. They are driving it. The second team are driving the first team. That has really helped when it has come to battles like this.”

While Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry enjoyed a purple patch in the second half and the Hill endured a scoring drought, their battling qualities remained on show. Never did they allow themselves to fall behind by more than a point while a solid defensive unit didn’t give up any goalscoring opportunities.

“Yeah, defensively we did really well today,” Enright said.

“They had one or two good goal chances but not many more than that, I think we did really well defensively and that was important, I think a goal was critical today.

“We went point for point in the second half, so the defensive qualities really came through.”

The win marked a second major victory in Croke Park for Enright, who won an All-Ireland SHC medal with Tipperary in 2001. Winning with the Hill has surely given him honorary Corkman status.

“It took 22 years so I wouldn't say it was overnight, that's for sure!” he laughed.

“This should rubbe- stamp it. Look, the family are there and we love the community down there, Watergrasshill and Glenville are just so supportive for everything we did and I couldn't believe the crowd here for a small place.

“Today was our 150th session, our 150th gathering, and I'm incredibly proud. I think the way that they play has inspired the community and it's full-on. You bring that intensity to it, you bring that kind of want and people will follow you and the team has been followed right from the start from that Carrigaline match right to here, we've had tremendous support.

“And they're a hurling community, they love it.”

Now, the quest is to carry the momentum up to senior A level.

“Yeah, it's important that you build a club for the future,” Enright said, “I think that's what we're trying to do.

“It's not just about the 15 that started today, sometimes the age profile doesn't run with you when you get up and the age-profile of the team is good. I think we've some good talent coming through, too.

“I don't think we've seen the population impact of growth in Watergrasshill yet, these are all people who have always been in Watergrasshill. So the future is bright and we're looking forward to it.”