RedFM Hurling League is helping Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas to flourish

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas’ hurlers have enjoyed a fairly positive few years but the aim now is to try and progress further. 

The West Cork side won the Carbery JAHC title in 2024 for the first time in 14 years. They jumped up to the RedFM Division 7 Hurling League for the last campaign and ended up getting promoted.

A great achievement for them considering the quality within that division.

For one of Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas’ key players, Robbie Lucey, playing in a different league was of huge benefit last year.

“Look, it was our first season up from playing in the leagues in West Cork, so it was massive for us really,” he says.

“I suppose we were playing teams that we wouldn’t usually play. We went up to the likes of Meelin and Killavullen, so it was a great experience for us.

“I think it really brought us on as a team playing in Division 7, and just a different change of scenery. We played a good few Premier Junior teams, it was a great experience playing them, and just pushing us on really.

"We’re going up to Division 6 now this year. Our neighbours Ballinascarthy, who are Junior A, are up there. We’re trying to follow them really, and keep pushing on.” 

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas wouldn’t have been fancied for promotion from Division 7 in 2025. They would have said the same this time last season. Perhaps going under the radar helped them.

“We didn’t really know what to expect, playing teams a grade above and from different divisions, but we just decided to take things one step at a time really, we just focused on the game ahead of us,” Lucey said.

“We drew with Ballinora in our first game, and we just took every game as they came, and we went on a winning run then. We lost to Killavullen, but we came back and beat them in the league final, so that was great for us as well.

“We found out a lot about ourselves playing in Division 7 last year because all we were used to was playing below in West Cork.” 

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas face a tough challenge in their opening game of the RedFM Division 6 Hurling League this weekend. They face Aghada, who would be two championship grades above them.

That game is on in Rostellan on Saturday at 4pm.

“We’re really looking forward to the start of the season now. This time of the year, it’s kind of a lot of running, and you want to get back to playing games.

“There’s a lot of good teams in Division 6 now. Aghada in our first game will be a massive test for us.

“These kind of games will be great preparation for the championship as the intensity in West Cork is massive.

“For the young people in the club seeing us playing against teams from up the county and everything is massive and that’ll drive them on too. The club is flying it at the moment.

“We just have to take every game as it comes. You’re promised nothing.”