How Kilbrittain's All-Ireland opponents Easkey reshaped Sligo hurling

On Sunday, January 10, at 3.15pm, Kilbrittain will step onto the Croke Park sod to face Sligo champions Easkey in the All-Ireland Junior Club Hurling Championship final, the curtain-raiser to the intermediate decider between Tooreen and Upperchurch-Drombane.

For Kilbrittain, it brings a long, remarkable 2025 season to its natural conclusion, one that has already delivered far more than they could have hoped for.

Given Cork’s formidable record in this competition, and the absence of a Kilkenny opposition, there will be no shortage of belief.

But it’s no soft landing, either.

Because while Kilbrittain arrive as champions of a county and province steeped in hurling tradition, Easkey arrive as something else entirely.

Proof of what can happen when patience, underage planning, good coaching and belief all come together over the course of a decade.

Not so long ago, Easkey were nowhere. Decimated by emigration to Britain and America in the 1980s – like many clubs in Sligo – Easkey were one of those hit the hardest, losing 15 players in that time. In 2017, the club weren’t fielding an adult senior hurling team at all.

When they returned to Sligo’s top grade in 2018, it marked their first senior campaign in 35 years. In 2020, they were champions.

And they’ve been champions every year since.

Prior to that 2020 season, Easkey hadn’t won a Sligo senior hurling title since 1963. But their rise wasn’t out of the blue, it took a lot of ground work underage. Between 2011 and 2016, Easkey won six Sligo U14 championships.

From 2013 to 2018, they collected six U16 titles. From 2015 to 2020, they claimed six minor championships.

That conveyor belt now feeds not just the Easkey senior team, but Sligo hurling as a whole, too.

Andrew Kilcullen is the most obvious expression of it. The tallies he has posted for Easkey this season have been extraordinary. Crucially, that form has transferred seamlessly to the inter-county stage.

In this year’s Nickey Rackard Cup, Kilcullen finished as the competition’s top scorer with 6-43, an average north of 12 points per game.

Sligo’s campaign ultimately stalled, a heavy defeat to Mayo in Round 4 extinguishing hopes of a decider before a final-round loss to Armagh closed the door entirely.

Yet, even there, the Easkey imprint was there for all to observe. Six starters in that loss to Armagh were on the Easkey team that went on to win the Connacht Junior final.

In 2018, Sligo were operating at Lory Meagher level. Since then, they have climbed as high as the Christy Ring Cup. Easkey have been at the heart of that shift.

EASKEY’S PATH TO THE FINAL 

Their dominance at home has been utterly unchallenged. Back in October, they claimed a sixth successive Sligo senior title, brushing aside Naomh Eoin by 13 points. Kilcullen was devastating, scoring 2-9 from play as Easkey pulled away decisively in the second half.

But their authority hasn’t stopped at county borders. Heading into 2025, they were already three-time reigning Connacht Junior champions. The provincial campaign began with a ruthless dismantling of Leitrim champions Cluainín Iomáint, 3-22 to 0-5 in the semi-final.

The Connacht final was sterner. Galway side Ballinasloe pushed Easkey to the brink, a late goal from Cathal O’Hanlon dragging the margin back to two.

But Easkey held firm, seeing out a 2-17 to 2-15 win.

Their All-Ireland semi-final against Donegal’s Burt was even more chaotic. Trailing 0-14 to 2-5 at the interval, Easkey surged in the second half and looked to have done enough when they moved five points clear late on. Burt’s astonishing finish – 1-2 in the closing stages – forced extra-time.

Even then, Easkey would not be denied. Kilcullen made sure of it.

He dragged his haul to an outrageous 4-10, 4-4 of it from play, to set up this Sunday’s decider with Kilbrittain.

It’s not quite fairytale, but it is remarkable.

This weekend is a chance for the Sligo club to win a first ever All-Ireland title, and a chance to make amends for their 2023 defeat to Ballygiblin.

And they're up against a Kilbrittain side searching for their first All-Ireland victory, too.