Brothers in arms - Philip Wall credits Jamie for making him who he is

The Kilbrittain hurlers' campaign has felt like one guided by destiny and, for captain Philip Wall, there was a perfectly fitting end.

When the final whistle went in Croke Park on Saturday and the scoreboard showed them ahead of Easkey by 0-19 to 0-18, his brother Jamie - working on the game for TG4 - was close at hand, allowing him to sprint over for an emotional embrace.

"I went down on the ground first of all," Philip said, "and then hugged Seánie Sexton - who is actually a distant relative as well! and then I just him [Jamie] then at the side. 

"What Jamie has done for me as a person and what he has done for me as a hurler, I wouldn't be the hurler I am today without him, I wouldn't be the man I am today without him. 

"To have him on the sideline, I am choking up even talking about it. It was incredible. Our success is as much his as it is mine. The work he has put in, we went back training in 2020 - and we were back the night before the Tipp hurlers because that is what he told us! - we needed tough love and he gave us tough love. 

"He is a good man to give tough love, if you need it. To have him there at the end, I can't describe it."

Victory certainly had to be earned by the West Cork side against the Sligo and Connacht champions.

"I think Easkey made sure we never kind of got into a groove," Wall said.

"We hit two straightaway after that [the red card], we should have kicked on, but full credit to Easkey, we knew they were going to be as fit as they were. Some of their scores and some of their fielding, especially by the No.13, was outstanding.

"Some of the scores they were getting, we had the same against Ballygarvan, and when those scores are are going over and going against you, you are thinking, 'Is this going to happen?'"

All season, though, Kilbrittain have been getting the results and this was no exception.

"We've been fighting all year, on and off the pitch," Wall said.

"There's a lot of resilience after being shown by the group following Oisín [Gillain] passing and everything, that has really instilled a maturity in some of the younger lads.

"We made hard work of it. I was here a couple of weeks ago with Kate [his twin sister, who plays camogie for St Finbarr's] and like they played a lot better than us, so sport is cruel. It is a great leveller. I am so thrilled to get over the line."

And a key component in that was manager Joe Ryan.

"Joe is a GP by trade and I couldn't describe him any better," Wall said, "he is so calm in the face of everything. 

"If there was ever a time to lose the head at the team, it was half-time. But he didn't. He came in and it was the same message again and again. 

"I think Joe would acknowledge himself that he hasn't came in and ripped the thing up, but has added his own unique style. He has been phenomenal. I think he has even improved as the year went on."