Premier SHC: Diarmuid Kirwan targets improvement as Muskerry face huge Imokilly task

Muskerry hurlers are the only team with three Cork county championship wins this year, but manager Diarmuid Kirwan readily admits that making it four will take a gargantuan effort.

On Sunday night, the mid-Cork side take on Imokilly in the final of the divisions and colleges section of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC in Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm).

A year ago, Imokilly claimed the Denis O’Riordan Cup on a scoreline of 6-31 to 0-17 before going on to win the county title. To that end, it would be unfair to measure success or failure for Muskerry solely on the outcome.

“The whole thing about it on Sunday night is that the lads who are there, who have been there for the three games so far, they’ve shown great respect to the Muskerry jersey and the Muskerry division,” Kirwan says.

“They’ve earned the right to be there on Sunday night – we beat Duhallow and Carbery and then had a good win over UCC at a brilliant Riverstown venue.

“How it goes, we’ll see, but they’ve put themselves forward. Over the last number of years, there have been a lot of guys that have come through the Muskerry system and gone on to play Cork U20 and it’s a great chance for them to be seen at a higher level.

“They can use that opportunity and that’s the big thing about it.

“Our whole aim is to reduce the deficit from last year. We had a good team then but it was definitely an eye-opener for us. It just shows you how strong hurling in Imokilly is; the way they’re running their system is very impressive.”

Since the 4-15 to 0-21 win against UCC in the semi-final three weeks ago, Muskerry have not been afforded much opportunity to convene due to club commitments.

“We had one session,” Kirwan says, “and all it was was a recovery session.

“We had a bit of a drill session and a small bit of a game – that’s all we could do and that’s all the players wanted as they’re in between matches with their clubs.”

“It was our third game in the championship and obviously it’s great for Muskerry to win three championship matches.

“Unfortunately, as one man said to me, ‘I’ll congratulate you on a great win but commiserate you on having to face Imokilly!’

“I know Avondhu [who lost to Imokilly in the other semi-final] had a good bit of work done this year and people said after seeing the scoreline against Imokilly they weren’t up to much but the reality is that they weren’t let be up to much.”

When Kirwan jokingly suggests that people attending on Sunday should bring a gearbag just in case, it’s not entirely unserious but, equally, he has faith in those who will be togged out in white and green.

“Our whole thing this year was to try to reduce the gap against Imokilly,” he says.

“The fact that we don’t have any of the Ballincollig players is a huge disadvantage.

“This week, I was trying to see if any of them might be released but they’re in a winner-take-all situation in their group, all four teams on two points, so it’s getting harder and harder to get players, especially a week before the last set of group games.

“It’s a pity that that’s the way it falls but you have to get on with it.

“All we can do is put our best foot forward, represent the Muskerry jersey as we always have and what will be, will be.”