Castlemartyr's sweeper plan for Mike Kelly paid off against Lisgoold
Billy McGann, with possession for Castlemartyr against Mallow in the Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship against Mallow. Picture: Larry Cummins
Not since 2023 have Castlemartyr made it out of the group stages of the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, and given how close they came to reaching the senior ranks in 2022, it’s been a tough couple of seasons for the club to endure.
Factor in the long-term loss of Cork star Ciarán Joyce, one would think the east Cork outfit would struggle again this year – particularly given how close they came to facing the drop last year – they were coming into this game having survived the relegation playoff with Mallow in 2024.
But hurling seldom follows such linear paths.
The Premier Intermediate championship holds its reputation as the toughest grade in the county. As such, it is fitting that Castlemartyr’s only win of the campaign came against eventual winners Ballinhassig. And that of course was Ballinhassig’s only blemish.
Their first round victory on Sunday over Lisgoold was most welcome, and most certainly deserved. They were the better team and had heroes all over the pitch, but Mike Kelly shone brightest in the sweeper role.
“We trained the last couple of weeks now for Mike to do that role,” said joint-manager Donal Burke. “So we had looked at Lisgoold, and hoped that it would be effective. He really did well, really did well in all occasions.
“I suppose in the second half there maybe we just didn't play him enough ball coming through, but delighted overall.”
Ciarán Joyce’s injury with Cork meant they were placed on the back foot before a ball was thrown in, but Burke, his management team, and players responded brilliantly to the loss.
“We kind of parked up Ciarán's injury after about a week,” Burke said. “And I said we'd drive on without him when we were planning our team, his brother was going to be in a central position instead of himself and obviously Barra Ó Tuama – the great 40-year-old – didn't let us down there today.
Stack was a notable absentee. He tallied 0-4 from play in the relegation playoff win, and has been one of their most threatening forwards across the last number of years.
And with the loss of Stack, there was room for Lawtons Barry and Brian to bring what they always do – a combined 1-7 in Midleton on Sunday – as well as Billy McGann, who contributed 2-2.
But it was the defensive work he did in the second half that proved equally as important.
“Our fittest man on the team,” laughed Burke.
“He came up with a super score there in the end which I think sealed it for us. But overall, he’s a tremendous player and can only get better.”
The entire team could be mentioned here no doubt, but one other defensive spark was Darragh Leahy, who was tasked with the daunting challenge of Cork senior Diarmuid Healy.
“Darragh Leahy, again we planned all this, he was putting in extra training to try and get plenty of speed into his legs then because obviously we know Duds [Healy] is a very, very good player but I thought he did a remarkable job on him.
“We got a bit tired at the end there and left it slip maybe,” he added. “He got a goal, but there was always a danger of that. I had said to Darragh during the week if you can hold him to 1-5 or 1-6 it would be a good job.
“Training has been unbelievable for the last two or three weeks," Burke remarked. “We've really upped it. Myself and Eoin Cashman really were doing the stuff with Brian Lawton and stats there now and Ciaran Joyce as well helping us out. So, hugely positive, great buzz around the place as well now for the last couple of weeks.”
And that buzz was evident at full-time, the manner of the win and the fact they’ve no got two points on the board showing it.
“It’s tremendous to us because the last couple of years, we were in a relegation playoff last year, we haven't won a first round for a long time and we really focused in on doing this now.”
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