IAHC: Aghabullogue keen to continue winning habit

Aghabullogue’s one-year stay in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC came to an end last season.

The Muskerry side suffered demotion having won the grade below in 2023. Despite having two points, the same as seven other teams, the Coachford-based outfit’s scoring difference went against them as they finished bottom of their group.

They lost out to Kilworth in the relegation play-off after a replay. They haven’t ripped up the script though.

Micheál McGrath is in his third campaign at the helm. The team in green and white won the RedFM Division 5 Hurling League title back in July before starting the Co-Op SuperStores IAHC with a 2-21 to 1-13 victory over Blackrock’s second team a fortnight ago.

Next up for them in Group 2 is a battle with Youghal tomorrow in Lisgoold at 4.30pm.

“We value our hurling, we think that we are a good team,” the Aghabullogue manager says.

“When the pressure is off and we can play to our potential, we feel that we are quite good. That showed against Blackrock. We had a great start, but they came back into it. We would be very happy with the second half display.

“Momentum can change quickly and we got a goal and we didn’t look back after that. We are happy to have started with a win and keep the winning feeling going.” 

The Muskerry men are at the bottom of the mountain again as they look to win this grade for the second time in three seasons. They know how to do it, but are also very aware of the difficult challenges ahead with Youghal next on the horizon.

“Youghal have some very good players,” McGrath said.

“They still have Bill Cooper available, coming up against the likes of him and other experienced players will be tough. We won’t be taking them for granted. We only have one win. We know that we have a long way to go.

“We don’t deserve to take any team for granted. Youghal will want to respond after their loss to Sarsfields' second team. It’s a great championship structure that we have, maybe I wasn’t so happy with it last year when we went down and I was cursing the group stages.

“It’s real cut and thrust. You generally have something to play for in every game.” 

Aghabullogue are a proud dual club, the footballers operate at the Premier Intermediate level. There’s no doubt that it’s very challenging for dual clubs these days, but Aghabullogue have shown it can work having won the Intermediate A double two years ago.

“We would love to have the lads hurling consistently. That’s not the case, you just have to get on with it. We are very much a dual club and we would always be 50/50.

“The footballers won their championship game a week before we got our season underway, so we were very much primed.”