IAHC: Bandon ready to face final in positive frame of mind despite delays

By the time Bandon take to the field for Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores IAHC final against Aghabullogue, it will have been six weeks since their last competitive match.

The decider had been fixed for October 18, a fortnight after the Lilywhites’ semi-final victory over Sarsfields, but poor weather conditions meant a postponement a couple of hours before the game was due to take place.

Due to Aghabullogue’s footballing commitments, fixing it in the interim has proven difficult - had the Coachford side lost to Uibh Laoire in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IHC, the decider would have been last weekend but Munster club football commitments took precedence.

However, Bandon manager Joe Burke feels that his team’s response to the situation has been very positive.

“After the initial disappointment, things have been good,” he says.

“Obviously, the game was postponed when we were all ready to go and there was a 24-hour doom and gloom but, in fairness, they’re a good bunch.

“They understood the situation, it was what it was, and we just had to get on with it.

“The reaction has been great, to be fair to them.”

While Aghabullogue have been exposed to more championship games over the past month, Bandon’s large squad has allowed for in-house games and the clarity on the date with the past week and a half means there are no excuses.

“If it was the 9th, we were ready for that,” Burke says, “and if Aghabullogue won, which they did, and it was the 16th, we had another plan in place for that.

“That’s what we’ve rolled with and things have gone well, to be fair.

“Aghabullogue are doing very well in both codes, and fair play to them. They’ve been in championship mode and that’s probably a massive advantage for them.

“It is what it is, all we were able to do was focus on the two dates and the two different situations we were in. Since the 2nd, we’ve had the fixture and had two weeks to prepare.

“When you’re in a county final, there’s ten other teams would love to be in the position you’re in.

“There’s excitement around the town and the community, especially among the kids, and everybody is looking forward to it.

“There’s a good vibe around the place and people have bought into it. We’re there and we’re going to make the most of it.”