Premier IHC: Dual mandate standing to Carrigaline as they head into Ballincollig showdown

Having lost the previous year’s final, Carrigaline opened their 2025 Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC campaign with a group-stage clash against Cloyne.

A 3-16 to 1-19 loss stung, not least because of a low level of shooting efficiency – but they atoned for that in their quarter-final in Páirc Uí Rinn.

Carrig saw off the East Cork opposition on a scoreline of 0-32 to 2-12, sending them through to a semi-final against Ballincollig – their 'successors' as beaten finalists – and leaving manager Gary Harrington happy with how form on the training field had been transferred.

“I'm delighted for the lads,” he said. “It's probably nothing that we don't see in training from them. Every player that came on, very pleased for them that they came out here and produced that performance there.

“That's just what we're doing in training, we're going through that every week with them.

“We were saying to them before the game, ‘This is the time to deliver that now,’ and look, thank God they did.”

By half-time, Carrigaline had amassed a 0-16 to 0-5 lead and were well on their way.

Mindful of their last group game, against Kilworth at the same venue, when the concession of late goals threatened their qualification, Harrington wanted to ensure there was no let-up.

“I suppose the message was just to keep it simple and try not to concede goals from play,” he said.

“I suppose against Kilworth, we got a bit complacent and we leaked a few goals. So that was the message to the backs, keep it very simple, don't concede goals.

I suppose if you go through the team there, we find the shooters all over the pitch. 

"They had the ball in their hand, but it's the defence that gives it to them and I thought our defence was outstanding again today. From our full-back line to our half-back line, they're all outstanding.

“When we played Cloyne last year in the first group game down in Cobh, we had 25 wides, so I suppose that was a big thing this year, that we were trying to work on our shooting from play.”

Solid foundation

It is work that has paid off, something made all the more impressive by the fact that Carrigaline are balancing dual-code commitments.

The fact that the football team earned a bye to the Premier SFC semi-finals made preparation for this a bit easier but overall there is strong collaboration.

“Myself and Mick, the football manager, we have good communication,” Harrington said.

“Look, it's about minding the lads at this stage and making sure that they're as fresh as possible for the football and for the hurling as well.

“Out of our starting 15 there, I think we have 10 dual players. This time of the year, it's about managing it and keeping them as fresh as possible.

“We'll regroup there now again during the week. We'll sit down with the footballers and we'll come up with a plan and schedule to make sure that both teams have the best of the benefits of it and give both sets of teams the best opportunity that they can.

“We'll go back training Tuesday again and reset again and regroup and focus in again on the Ballincollig game.”

Rematch

It will need some focus, given how well Ballincollig have shrugged off the disappointment of last October’s final defeat to Ballinhassig, setting a high standard as they secured an automatic semi-final spot. Carrigaline beat them in the 2024 semi, Collig had the edge in last year's quarter-final.

“I suppose Ballincollig, I think from the start of the championship, have been favourites,” Harrington said.

“They came through their group winning all three games, so they'll be favourites coming into that game and, look, we're privileged to be in the county semi-final.

“It's a great opportunity for us to go up and play Ballincollig again.”