Munster Club JHC final: David Desmond delighted to answer Kilbrittain's call

In 1997, David Desmond was the star turn as Kilbrittain NS beat Dungourney in the Sciath na Scol Roinn J hurling final.

“A brilliant display by forward David Desmond was rewarded with a last-minute goal and a victory for his team,” read the report in the Evening Echo.

“Desmond was outstanding, with his ability to win and run with ball.”

He was in fifth class then, but his debut in the competition had actually come when he was in third class, drafted in as a goalkeeper when headmaster Pat Deasy had to deal with an injury crisis.

Now, more than three decades later, the wheel has come full circle, with 40-year-old Desmond set to play in Saturday’s AIB Munster Club JHC final for Kilbrittain against Waterford’s Kilrossanty at Mallow (1pm).

A member of the Kilbrittain attack when the county IHC was won in 2010, Desmond was 34 when he retired at the end of 2019 due to the need for a hip replacement.

Such is the way of things in rural clubs tight for numbers, the Kilbrittain junior B team needed a goalkeeper in 2021 - Desmond was a selector and answered the call, his first appearance between the sticks since playing U16 as a 13-year-old.

That led to him serving as number 16 to Alan Hayes - another converted attacker, captain of the 2010 team - and then Aaron Holland for the premier junior side.

When travel meant Holland was unavailable for 2024, Desmond returned to first-team action after a five-year gap.

“The goalkeeping job, it has changed a lot,” he says.

“I had the experience of playing outfield and I suppose it is a bit easier to adapt. It’s not just stopping the ball and lumping it down the field.

“You're actually more involved in the play, which is great, and it worked for Alan before me.”

Kilbrittain only lost one championship game in 2024 but unfortunately two draws meant they failed to make the knockout stages. Desmond did have to consider if he would play on, but he was excited by the potential of the young team.

“It was hugely disappointing,” he says, “I had to contemplate, would I go back or not, but I thought this team had something special about them.

“Aaron Holland and Seán Sexton returned from Australia as well at Christmas and that was another huge boost, so I gave it another go.”

Desmond’s success in goal has allowed Holland to flourish at centre-back. Once Kilbrittain got over neighbours Barryroe - whom they had failed to beat in three meetings in as many seasons - they picked up momentum, culminating in October’s county final win over Glen Rovers.

After the celebrations died down, they picked up where they left off with a win away to Limerick’s Knockaderry and now are a game way from more silverware.

“It was unknown territory the last day,” Desmond says, “but once we got the grips with the conditions and the rest, we drove on and it was a superb performance.

“On to a Munster final now and we couldn't ask for any more - there's just such a buzz around the place, I’ve never seen it before. There's actually no talk of Christmas, it’s all hurling, hurling, hurling.

“When we had to travel to Limerick, there was such excitement around the place, especially for the kids. It's unbelievable. We can't wait for it now.”

Among those children is Desmond’s daughter Leona, who has just turned two - another side-effect of his renaissance has been that she can see him in action.

“She’s caught up in it all as well,” he says, “it’s great for her to have those memories.

“I’m very lucky to have that and for my wife Emma to give me the permission to still play too.”