Bragging rights secured, but gutting outcome for Watergrasshill's Eddie Enright
Watergrasshill Senior A hurling team manager Eddie Enright. Picture: David Keane.
Seldom do the winners leave more disappointed than the beaten. Yet that was the story in Ballynoe. Two emphatic wins, one heavy defeat, and still Watergrasshill are gone from the Senior A HC.
Na Piarsaigh, by contrast, staggered through with a single victory and two losses, their quarter-final place secured despite losing their first two outings. Fine margins, cruel margins.
We’re disappointed to be honest,” said manager Eddie Enright after the win over Bride Rovers. “The 15 minutes against Blarney killed us. Scoring wise, we knew it was going to be difficult.”
It has echoes of Dungourney’s 2023 Premier Intermediate campaign. First season up, competitive throughout, and still the unlucky ones to miss out. Two good wins, one tough defeat. Three don’t go into two. But like Dungourney, a platform has been laid.
“We can concentrate on our performance today. We’re back to what we're good at. They brought everything out there against a quality side, it’s good that we’ve kind of laid foundations at this grade. But we’re gutted, we’re gutted not to go through. We wanted to go further.”
There was a chance to go further, however slim. With Blarney already taking care of Courcey Rovers by half time, the Hill had to win by 18. At the break, Enright’s side were nine clear. Brendan Lehane’s stunning goal stretched it to 11 on 32 minutes.
“You plan to win the game first, I think coming down the stretch there, we wanted to get goals, absolutely when it was maybe on,” Enright remarked. “Eleven up, I thought we could have got a couple of breaks, but they never really let us get through. We didn’t talk about it at half time to be honest, we talked about our game.”
At the very least, Watergrasshill take the bragging rights from their first championship meeting with Rovers in 27 years, since that East Cork junior semi-final in 1998.
“Ah yeah, of course. The local rivalry there, going back a long, long time, it will be great for that local bragging rights until Christmas I guess!” Enright said. “But ultimately, we didn’t get through and they did.”
The derby edge was never far away. On 45 minutes, it spilled over. A tangle between Conor Hazelwood and Brendan Lehane was exacerbated when Watergrasshill mentor Noel O'Riordan came on from the sideline, ostensibly to check on him but his contact with Hazelwood crossed the line and triggered a skirmish that drew both sides.
O'Riordan was shown a red card by referee Cathal McAllister, while neither player was booked.
They had already done thee damage with the wind. Choosing to play with it, the Hill tore through the first half. Adam Murphy was untouchable, firing 0-6 from play as they built a commanding lead.
“It depends, it can be for and against, the last day, we played better against the wind against Blarney.
“I think sometimes it kind of squeezes you when you’re with the wind, but if you’re chasing a game, it’s very difficult with the wind and for Bride Rovers, it was very difficult for them too.
“He [Murphy] is a great player, but I think the team were exceptional today, breaking tackles, [and] exceptional in the tackle, he said. “I thought the sending off [for Anthony Cronin] was harsh to be honest, but I thought we were really up for it as a team, we played well as a unit, and that allowed Adam then to get those chances.”
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