Aghabullogue rising high in both codes: These lads give it absolutely everything

Juggling two codes isn’t easy. Yet Aghabullogue do it week in and week out. 

On Saturday, in the Castle Grounds in Macroom, they made it back to the Premier IFC final a mere 12 months after they lost the decider to Kilshannig following a replay.

Next weekend, they will try to move up to the Premier intermediate grade in hurling after being relegated following a replay with Kilworth last year. The previous year they won the intermediate A championship.

The crossover of players between football and hurling is a lot.

Ray Keane oversees the football and he steered them past Naomh Abán in the semi-final, 2-11 to 0-15. Seven days previously, they secured an extra-time victory over Aghada in the hurling.

“To be fair to all the lads, they gave it absolutely everything. That’s the main thing we’ve been asking all week just to leave it all there on the field. When you leave it all there, you won’t be too far away one way or the other. Even if you walk off and you are beaten and they’ve emptied the tank, you’re happy as a manager,” he said.

“That is the nature of these lads. I can guarantee you there will be three of four of these lads out tomorrow playing soccer as well. And then they will play hurling next week. They will go on the tear Saturday night and they will go on the tear on Sunday, win or lose, and we’ll try and knuckle down then for a final. 

It is just bonkers to everyone else, but it is the way they are able to just keep doing it. 

"To be fair to them, they are as honest a bunch as you would meet anywhere in the country, I can guarantee you that.” 

 Nobody more so than football captain and dual star John Corkery, who was in a race against time to be fit.

“I’ve spoken enough about John at this stage. Like, what people don’t realise is what John has done to get in this position to even play today. Most people would have thought he was gone for the year. He’ll probably do everything he can now to make the hurling. 

"And we’ll be hoping they will all come through it. Look, I can’t speak highly enough of John and highly enough about all the players.” 

DEDICATION

Dhani Merrick came on as a substitute less than a week after burying his wife Kerry Corcoran and he was met with the warmest of receptions from the crowd.

“We’re only thrilled that he is here with us because he is a huge part of what we’ve done since I, Enda (Kiernan), Denis (Finnegan) and Mike (Golden) have come in. He messaged me during the week to see if it was alright to come training. 

"That says enough about the man. He is just a great, great, great man. 

To be fair to the players and to the community, they will all knuckle down and they will all be around him. And he will need them. 

"It is dark at the moment and it is tough for him. As I said to the lads three weeks ago before we played Kiskeam, if we can give him any bit of light, and they keep doing it. If this can bring some deflection for Dhani, then great.”