Fergal Condon: 'We love our hurling' as Aghada power into IAHC quarter-finals 

Aghada are back in the knockout stages of the Co-Op SuperStores IAHC, and they got there the hard way. 

On a tense Friday evening in Cloughduv, with the group hanging by a thread and last year’s Premier JHC champions Kilbrittain standing in their way, they produced the kind of performance they’ve been chasing for two seasons.

Their 1-23 to 0-18 victory didn’t just keep their championship alive — it pushed them through on the head-to-head rule, a turnaround few would have predicted after their opening two Group 1 games yielded just one point. 

The reward is a quarter-final meeting with Mallow, a fixture that now carries real momentum for the East Cork men.

For selector Fergal Condon, formerly part of the Cork senior setup under Pat Ryan, the display felt like a long-awaited unlocking of potential.

“We were on it this evening,” he said afterwards, still taking in the scale of the result. 

“It was the first time in a while that we’ve played to our potential. We’ve seen that potential since we took over two years ago, especially with the influence coming through from the younger lads.

“The first bit of work was done under the previous management, and we’ve been building on that. I’m just delighted for them.” 

Aghada’s intensity was obvious from the start — their tackling, their accuracy, their willingness to play on the front foot. They led by four points at half-time, with Jamie O’Hanlon’s goal crucial.

“It was a statement performance,” Condon says.

“The chips were down, big crowd here, and we delivered. We’d have been disappointed with the previous games that we didn’t come out with wins, but we kept at it. 

"The way the groups are in hurling at the moment is fantastic — everybody was playing for something this evening.

“You could see it with the lads afterwards, they were over the moon. We’re delighted to be in the quarter-final and keeping our season alive.” 

Last year’s semi-final defeat to eventual winners Aghabullogue still lingered in the background, and Condon didn’t shy away from how much this win meant to the club.

“It means a lot,” he states.

“We have an awful lot of influence in the team from the juvenile section. When you’re bringing fellas through from that level, it takes time. But we’ve great experienced lads too. 

"You saw William Leahy there in the second half, Charlie Terry in the first half, and John Looney and Michael Russell — they’ve been around a long time. They’re great players.

“Pearse O’Neill came on and he brought us home like he always does. That’s what you want — fellas finishing strong.” 

For Condon personally, the triumph carried its own significance. After several seasons involved with Cork, he is now in his second campaign back with his home club.

“You love your club,” he said. 

“There’s great enjoyment in it. It’s fantastic to be with the people you grew up with and coached all through the years. It’s something special altogether.

“Having the club now in the quarter-finals gives me something to talk about. You love your own club performing. We love hurling down in Aghada, and we’re proud of what the boys are doing.”