SAHC preview: Blues buzzing as they step up

Ballinhassig were never going to rest on their laurels after last year’s Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC win – and the draw for 2026 ensured that they start life in senior A with a bang.

Kilbrittain is the venue on Saturday evening for a derby clash against Courcey Rovers, with Ballinhassig aiming to build on the momentum that saw them follow the county title with promotion from Division 3 of the RedFM Hurling League.

Cork panellist Darragh O’Sullivan was a key part of victory of 2025 and he feels they benefit from a strong collective effort as they look to negotiate a tough group that also features Carrigtwohill and Inniscarra.

“Most fellas are under the age of 27 or 28, which is a good enough age-bracket to be working with,” says O’Sullivan, a sports and exercise management student at MTU Cork.

“We've got fellas that have been driving standards as well, when myself and Pa [Collins] are away with Cork, or Ger when he was there.

“It is just with everyone having the goal that we're not done here, we want to keep pushing on and pushing on and trying to inspire the young fellas here in Ballinhassig to come up and that they want to play senior hurling and winning silverware with Ballinhassig.”

To that end, earning promotion was another important step.

“We had a fantastic year last year, winning the premier intermediate,” O’Sullivan says, “and then obviously after the county final, we knew we were in a Munster campaign and like that, the whole team was kind of hungry to try and push on and win more.

“It's kind of just when you get a taste, it's where you want to keep going. Obviously we didn't win Munster but we started off in Division 3 of the league and our goal was to get up a division, just so you're playing better teams.

“We achieved that goal to get up to Division 2 and I think it is just when you get a taste of silverware and when you get a taste of winning, it is kind of driving on.”

While Ballinhassig lost the Division 3 final to Blarney, it served as the ideal bridge between league and championship, giving an insight as to what to expect.

O’Sullivan also credits the management team of his father John, Mick Keohane and John Paul Griffin with upping the preparation levels.

“They do an awful amount of work that we don't see,” he says, “lots of video work and things like that.

“They are driving some standard and even from last year, they realise the jump here now, we're a senior club now, there's more hurling involved, it's quicker games and our trainings have been based around this new level and new intensity that we have to jump ourselves up to.”

And, while O’Sullivan did not feature at inter-county level as much as he would have liked, that too is beneficial in terms of providing the club with a better player.

“Obviously with Cork, I would love to get more game-time,” he says, “but I had got some experience and some exposure inside there.

“You're training with the best, you're marking the best, and you're bringing that experience down to Ballyhassig, where maybe you’re giving a tip to someone.

“I have enjoyed the last two years as well.”

CO-OP SUPERSTORES SAHC FIXTURES

Saturday, August 1 (7pm unless stated)

Group 1: Blarney v Castlelyons, Riverstown, 2pm; Ballyhea v Watergrasshill, Kildorrery.

Group 2: Erin’s Own v Na Piarsaigh, Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.45pm; Fermoy v Killeagh, Lisgoold.

Group 3: Ballinhassig v Courcey Rovers, Kilbrittain; Carrigtwohill v Inniscarra, Blarney.