Dungourney's big players came to the fore to push them into Premier Intermediate Championship mix

On Sunday afternoon, Dungourney came out on top following a very entertaining East Cork affair, 4-16 to 2-17 against Castlemartyr, to book a place in the quarter finals of the Co-Op Superstores Cork PIHC.

This was seen by many as one of the games of this weekend across all grade levels in the Cork club hurling championship. And boy did it deliver up to expectations.

Dungourney held their nerve, with a sensational opening 15-minute hat-trick from Cillian O’Callaghan and an impressive individual display from the gifted operator Jack Leahy, among the crucial elements which came together for a sweet success.

Dungourney showed they are made to stern character and they responded well to the scoring spells Castlemartyr unloaded throughout the hour of play.

But Dungourney pounced when it mattered most to progress to the PIHC quarter-final stages. Aghabullogue now lie in wait in a few weeks.

Relief

Dungourney manager Martin Hennessy told The Echo of his satisfaction with the victory and that his side are right where they want to be playing at the business end of the championship.

“It is a difficult group when it is four East Cork teams and four big rivals. Every day is a battle and mentally it is tough.

“So we are delighted that we are through. The main emotion is relief and that we are still alive.” 

On the Dungourney performance and victory against Castlemartyr, Hennessy added:

“We knew exactly what we were going to get from Castlemartyr. We were up big at the opening 15 minutes and Castlemartyr came back into it.

“In the end our big players came to the fore. They really stood up for Dungourney when we needed them the most.” 

Dungourney have successfully navigated their shark-infested Cork PIHC group full of East Cork derbies. Now for Hennessy, his Dungourney players and backroom staff, they focus on what should be a cracking quarter-final against Aghabullogue.

“We are playing in bits and spurts. We are playing well, then we are stopping and then we are going again. But we have to work on it.

To be honest, when we saw the group at the start of the year, we are just delighted to be out of the group now and to be playing hurling coming into September.

“Last year, we went the direct route into the semi-final and it didn’t work out for us. So the extra game maybe will be good and hopefully we can get back to a semi-final.

“We are in the business end of the championship and it is game on now. Coming into September time, this is where we want to be.”