Paul Ring on Aghabullogue's Munster opener: We are going to go out and enjoy it

Paul Ring is determined for Aghabullogue to have a right crack off the AIB Munster Club IFC.

The team in green and white only won the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC title last Sunday after a nail-biting one-point victory over Muskerry rivals Uibh Laoire.

Ray Keane’s charges join the senior football ranks for the first time in the 2026 season. Before that, they want to make an impression in the provincial championship.

They take on Tipperary winners Thurles Sarsfields tomorrow at the quarter-final stage in Templetuohy with throw-in at 1.30pm.

“Our goal at the start of the year was to win the county, we are in bonus territory now,” Ring said.

“We are just going to go out and enjoy it and see what happens. Of course, we want to do well in it.

“A quick turnaround from winning the county, but we won’t complain. To say now that we are going to be a senior football club in 2026 is absolutely unbelievable. No one would have thought it outside of the group. We have full belief in ourselves.

“It’s magical. We just have a good crop of players that have come through at the same time. We just have been on a journey and we don’t want it to stop. Winning the county was brilliant. We will refocus the minds now and get ready to head up to Tipperary.” 

Ring was on the Cork senior football panel for a number of seasons before being dropped off shortly after his brilliant year in 2023 for Aghabullogue in their IAFC success. He has been in marvellous form in recent years and was deservedly Player of the Match last Sunday.

“After we lost to Kilshannig in the final last year, we took stock of things,” the defender says.

“We said that we would return and not let the game slip by us again. Momentum is a real thing in sport. When things are going well, they are going well. It’s hard to stop winning.

“Also, Ray Keane is in his second year with us. I was quite surprised to be honest when we were able to bring him in as manager. I think he was going for the St Finbarr’s job at the time and didn’t get it. We had no manager so why not ask him.

“He said he would take it on. He’s a Kerry man, we won’t hold that against him, but he has been great. He has got brilliant football knowledge and has won a lot as a player and as a manager.“