SAHC: Quality over quantity key as Castlelyons continue to enjoy Noel Furlong's impact
Castlelyons' David Morrison celebrates the goal that completed his hat-trick. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
While Noel Furlong’s presence around the Castlelyons hurlers’ set-up has been more limited than the two previous years, he continues to help the east Cork club to succeed.
In 2023, Furlong was coach as Castlelyons won the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC, following that with the Munster club title and making it to the All-Ireland decider, losing to a Thomastown side that would go on to win the Kilkenny SHC at the first attempt.
Last year, the jump to senior A level was taken in stride – the semi-finals of the second tier were reached and Castlelyons gave eventual champions Glen Rovers their stiffest test of the campaign.
Furlong’s appointment as Cork U20 manager for 2025 meant that that had to take precedence – but it is a vote of confidence in Castlelyons that he was willing to stay involved when the time allowed.
On Saturday night, three goals from David Morrison and 1-8 from Alan Fenton helped Castlelyons past Blarney and into the SAHC final and manager Michael Spillane hailed Furlong’s input.
“To be fair to him, obviously with the 20s this year, we didn't see Noel until June,” Spillane said.
“We were kind of doing our own thing, our own strength and conditioning with Eoghan Dorgan.
“Obviously, we've had a couple of long years, getting to Croke Park against Thomastown in January 2024. We knew that that bit of freshness of Noel not coming into June might help, and thankfully so far it has anyway.”
Along with Furlong, the presence of Spillane has served as constant as he has stepped up from selector to manager.
The 33-year-old has played with many of the squad, which includes his brothers, but he has coped well and credits the rest of those in the group.
“I'm just delighted to be involved with them all the time as well,” he said.
“Obviously, we've Noel in for all his expertise, so it's great – we've a great team there to be honest.
The experience that Castlelyons carry on the sideline is mirrored by that on the pitch, with a number of players having plenty of hurling under their belts. One of those is Alan Fenton, who opted to go for goal from a free midway through the second half, when they led by a point – while his effort was kept out, David Morrison was following up to get the second of his third goal.
“In fairness to Alan, he's well experienced now, he probably felt that the momentum was with Blarney,” said Spillane, “and that we probably needed a bit more.
“It was lucky, obviously, that it bounced out to Davy, the angle he was running in, but we'll take it.”
Morrison’s third goal, near the end of normal time, expanded the Castlelyons lead from two points to five, finally putting the outcome beyond doubt. It all adds up to a meeting in the final with their neighbours Bride Rovers.
It’s the proverbial ‘takes on a life of its own’ situation, but Spillane feels it’s best to embrace it.
“Look, there's lads [from the opposing clubs] living beside each other,” he said.
“They gave us a good trimming last year, so we obviously need to look at that maybe a little bit, and obviously their performance there against Carrigtwohill tonight as well.
“Obviously, we know we're going to be up against it against the Rovers, but we'll give it a good rattle anyway.”
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