SAHC final: Rookie Michael Spillane enjoying step up to Castlelyons' top role

Michael Spillane was in the background of the Castlelyons management team over the last couple of years.

These days, he’s the main man after being promoted to the manager's position prior to the start of this season.

Despite being relatively young at 33 years of age, Spillane has taken to the new role like a duck to water.

On Saturday, they take on Imokilly rivals Bride Rovers in the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm).

“I was involved the last two years with Noel Furlong and with his commitments with the Cork U20 hurlers this year and the other two selectors stepped aside as well, the job kind of fell into my hands,” Spillane says.

“I was the last man standing really, to be honest. From the players’ perspective, they wanted a bit of continuity from the last two years. That’s why I stepped up.

“Noel has been back on board since June as well, which is brilliant. There hasn’t been too much of a change really, to be honest, in terms of what we do.

“It doesn’t matter who is the manager and that’s down to Noel Furlong as well from the last two years. There’s a lot of responsibility as a selector under him too, doing other things.” 

It has all come together for Castlelyons. They finally got over the line in 2023 after winning the PIHC.

Many years of trying had been worth it. Since, they reached the semi-final of the SAHC in 2024 and have gone one step further in this campaign.

“We have a very strong core of players,” Spillane said.

“I suppose now they’re more experienced maybe and we know what we can do and we probably know our limitations better.

“Obviously the expertise of Noel Furlong since he came in has changed the lads from being almost there to getting over the line and then having the belief to compete again at a higher grade.

“To be honest, even from just two years being Senior A, there’s not much difference in the standard between Premier Intermediate and Senior A.

“You can see that Premier Intermediate is very hard to get out of and Senior A is ultra-competitive as well, depending on what group you’re in.” 

Standing in Castlelyons’ way of a second county title in three seasons are their neighbours in the shape of Bride Rovers.

The Rathcormac side would have been one of the fancied teams at the start of the year whereas Castlelyons were less so.

“There’s plenty of crossover between both clubs. We probably haven’t met that often over the last decade or so, but the history is there.

“It's all about getting over the line. We’re not under any illusions. We know Bride Rovers are obviously very strong.

“They’re going in as strong favourites, but we know we’re in a good place. The lads trust each other and they’re going to give it everything.” Spillane ended.