Ten years on from the year that fired Dungourney to new heights 

In an age where rural clubs face a multitude of different challenges, Dungourney’s hurlers appear to consistently excel no matter what is thrown at them.

Currently competing at premier intermediate level, it’s hard to paint that as anything other than a remarkable overachievement.

That’s not because Dungourney lack quality. But the fact they’ve been able to extract results year after year from two adult hurling teams is admirable. Even more so when you consider that their second team competed at Junior ‘C’ level in east Cork, until winning that title last year.

Ten years ago, Dungourney enjoyed one of their best ever seasons as a club.

Barring their trio of Cork senior victories in the early 20th century, it’s arguably been the peak of the club's history.

A run to the 2015 East Cork Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship decider pitted Dungourney against St Ita’s, who were reaching this juncture for the first time in their 114-year history.

Experience shone through and the 2011 Jamesy Kelleher Cup winners repeated the trick once again, beating Ita’s on an impressive scoreline of 1-23 to 2-12.

A lightning start to the second period was the difference maker as the gold sashes fired off seven scores in seven minutes finding a goal through Shane Casey.

Ryan Denny impressed in midfield, while Shane Hegarty was a thorn up front.

They were even more impressive in the county section, even if it took two finals to show that strength.

But Denny – who was integral all throughout recalls the campaign that brought Dungourney to a new level. “It was a great journey to be part of,” he remarks. “It’s one of the highlights now looking back on my career along with the success of 2022."

PROMOTION 

Dungourney made it to the county decider, played in late October. With four minutes remaining, hopes of winning a county title hung by a very thin thread.

Five points down, Cloughduv on route to victory.

Yet somehow, Dungourney pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the form of 1-2 with Cloughduv only managing one point, which forced a replay.

And the replay took on an entirely different form. The east Cork club dominated.

A 13-point win over Cloughduv ensured a first ever Cork junior hurling title.

Denny again starred scoring 12 points, as they powered in front early on. Their opponents did tighten up in the second half but the damage was done, and they were always held at arm's length.

Along with Denny’s impressive showing, Hegarty fired 1-2 in that replay.

It’s hardly a surprise to see those two still playing and delivering for Dungourney a decade on.

But that county title, and what would follow marked a turning point in the club.

In November, the focus turned to Munster. The third chapter in a four-phase adventure. Drumcollogher/Broadford first up in the semi-final.

Denny and Hegarty to the fore again, while Jack Griffin scored 0-4 as the green and gold won 2-11 to 0-5.

GLORY 

Waterford’s Fenor followed in the decider. Fenor fought hard and were efficient in front of the posts, but the Dungourney train wasn’t stopping.

Griffin rose to the occasion once again firing home an important goal in the 37th minute. That put Dungourney three in front. They weren’t going to be caught after that.

Munster champions, an incredible feat. Even if their All-Ireland dreams were washed away in the semi-final, it was a year to remember.

The Munster final was yet another game where Denny starred, scoring 11 points.

But it’s not the 11-point haul that Denny focusses on. The three titles aren’t even the focal point. They were the catalyst for something much greater. I nspiring the next generation of Dungourney hurlers, who Denny now shares the pitch with.

“We’re a small club with small numbers, but we have a proud hurling tradition that’s really important to us,” he says. “Winning in 2015, it drove a lot of the underage to make that journey up to adult level, and we’ve seen that success that’s brought about now.

A lot of people actually don’t realise that age group had a lot of young players like me, Shane Hegarty and Niall Motherway.

“We didn’t have much in between but we had a lot of senior players as well. It was a team of young players but a lot of people who had the experience as well.

“I’m one of the older boys now, but I think winning in 2015, that blooded a lot of the younger fellas like Jack Leahy, John Ahern, James Ahern, Paul Flynn.

“The likes of those who are our key players now, along with Niall Motherway, Shane Hegarty and James McCarthy who have the experience.

“It definitely led to that success we see today.”