Watergrasshill end incredible journey as Kings of Croker

The action at Croke Park was pulsating from start to dramatic finish when Sean Desmond’s salvo of 1-1 decided it.

What a game. What a way for Watergrasshill to win.

There was a great blend of long deliveries, ferocious work-rate, high fielding and absolute honesty from both sides throughout. The scoring rate might not have been inter-county level but there were a number of brilliant points all the same.

Adam Murphy, Desmond and the Galway side’s Shane Moloney and Ben Moran landed some utter gems. 

Kevin O’Neill, Daire O’Leary and ice-cool keeper Aiden Foley made crucial plays at critical times for Watergrasshill but the team effort was in keeping with an incredible campaign that sparked to life after an opening-day comeback against Carrigaline.

The Hill were worthy winners having created the better chances overall, reflected in the tally of 11 wides to six. They actually looked to be in control at the break. Only a few disappointing wides coming up half-time marred what had been a terrific 25 minutes for the Hill after falling 0-4 to 0-1 in arrears early on.

Outside of their marquee man, wing-forward Ciarán O’Leary, corner-back Shane Field and full-back Dylan McCarthy were standouts, their touch crisp and energy contagious.

Murphy’s opening goal spun the right direction under the diving Brendan Lynch but it came in a period when Watergrasshill created four goal chances, two for Murphy and two for Brendan Lehane. The Cork champions outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-1 all the same as their vocal support lapped up every block, pass and classy score.

The Galway side had Mattie Kenny at the helm, well used to this stage with Dublin, Cuala and Galway underage sides, and he sent his charges back into the fray fully focused.

WONDERFUL

Shane Moloney started the second half like a train, with a free and a soaring sideline, and then grabbed three wonderful points from play before the Hill got a handle on him.

Watergrasshill’s decision-making betrayed them for a while. Desmond looked to engineer a goal when they badly needed a white flag to steady the nerves and even powerhouse Daire O’Leary saw the sliotar thieved as he drove out.

Murphy smashed over two great points from play but missed frees suggested the momentum had tilted towards Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, especially when they went 0-17 to 1-13 up after 57 minutes.

Yet under the stewardship of Eddie Enright and an excellent backroom team, the Hill never faltered. 

The conditioning, coaching and belief that fueled them since last summer proved essential.

Sub Dylan Roche’s leveller put them back on track before Desmond, well-held for much of the second half, underlined his potential with a smashing point on the run and then the decisive goal which saw an explosion of red in the Hogan Stand.

They’re just the fourth Cork club to climb the steps and collect the intermediate silverware on Jones Road, following on from Kanturk (2018), Ballymartle (2011) and Blarney (’09) and going one better than Ballinhassig (2006), Charleville (’19), Fr O’Neill’s (2020) and Castlelyons (’24).

Adam Murphy, a revelation this season, was the official TG4 Man of the Match but there was no shortage of candidates.

It was an All-Ireland to be savoured and shared, by the panel, the club and the wider community. They’ll party hard this week and they deserve to.

From failing to qualify from the group in recent years to kings of Croker. Some going!