IAHC preview: Kilbrittain focus firmly on Russell Rovers clash
Joy for Kilbrittain after beating Easkey in January's AIB All-Ireland club JHC final at Croke Park. Picture: Inpho/James Lawlor
The celebrations have died down in Kilbrittain, but they will be keen to show that the momentum has not.
A dream-like season for the west Cork outfit took in county Premier JHC glory before going on to win the Munster title and then the All-Ireland at Croke Park in January.
Despite the later finish than any other club in the county, they secured enough points in the league to secure survival in Division 5 of the RedFM Hurling League and now face into a challenging, but exciting, intermediate A campaign.
First up will be their predecessors as premier junior champions, Russell Rovers, in Ballinhassig on Sunday afternoon, before a derby clash against Bandon – since 1982, the clubs’ only flagship championship encounter was 2008 – with Aghada in the final game.
Naturally, nobody in Kilbrittain is looking beyond the opening clash against the Ballycotton/Churchtown South/Garryvoe/Shanagary outfit.
“It’s just all about trying to get a result in that first round,” says captain Tomás Sheehan.
“In the new system, you can't look past that first game because, if you lose that, the odds are stacked against you straightaway.
“We know we're in a tough group, there's three tough games there, so going up a grade, you have to just take it game by game.”
In 2024, Kilbrittain failed to get out of their group in the Premier JHC but it was a campaign that featured two draws out of three games, with a late Nemo Rangers equaliser eliminating them.
That match has turned out to the be first of an unbeaten championship run that now stretches to ten across county, provincial and national competitions.
Maintaining it will be a tall order as they step up to the fourth tier, especially given how ruthlessly mistakes can be punished. Short of players in the last few league matches, Kilbrittain endured some losses but the hope is that Joe Ryan’s side can turn them into educational experiences as they return to championship action after a shorter gap than most.
“We know going up a grade that we can compete,” Sheehan says, “but, at the same time, against Dungorney in the league we didn't turn up that night in down in their place and we got humbled pretty quickly.
“We know we are up to the required standard but if you don't perform then you will get punished by teams at this level.”
Aghada v Bandon, Church Road, 7.15pm.
Midleton v Mallow, Castlelyons, 6.30pm.
Kilshannig v Nemo Rangers, Glanworth; Cloughduv v St Catherine’s, Shanbally; Milford v Tracton, Grenagh; Barryroe v St Finbarr’s, Belgooly.
Kilbrittain v Russell Rovers, Ballinhassig, 4.30pm; Blackrock v Kildorrery, Glenville, 2pm; Ballygiblin v Youghal, Ballynoe, 2pm; Erin’s Own v Sarsfields, Cobh, 4.30pm.
Ballygarvan v Glen Rovers, Ballymah, 1.30pm; Argideen Rangers v Mayfield, Newcestown, 1.30pm.
App?
