IAHC: Bandon ready for action after longer lay-off
Bandon's Eolann McSweeney (right) with Aaron Mulcahy of Midleton ahead of this weekend's Co-op SuperStores IAHC semi-final. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Losing a county final can be a double-edged sorts when you regroup to go again the following year.
On the one hand, you know you have what it takes to get back to the decider; on the other, you’re starting from zero just like everyone else and with a target on your back, a scalp for others to try to take.
In the middle of November 2025, Bandon lost to Aghabullogue by a single point in the Co-op SuperStores IAHC final; a few weeks later, the 2026 draw pitted them with the last two premier junior champions – Russell Rovers and neighbours Kilbrittain – and Aghada, who had lost to Aghabullogue in the semi-finals.
An opening win over Aghada was followed by a draw with Kilbrittain, leaving things finely poised going into the last game. Had the Lilywhites lost to Russell Rovers, they would have been out; thankfully, a two-point win was sufficient for them to top the group and earn a direct semi-final spot.
Midleton provide the opposition in Church Road on Saturday and Eolann McSweeney is delighted that the first part of the campaign has seen such a strong response to going so close in the previous season.
“We were absolutely gutted at the end of last year,” he says.
“It was such a tight game and fine margins, but we all came into this year absolutely itching to go, really
“We had most of our management back and they set a pathway for us. We knew we had the ability to go again, so we kind of just put it into two blocks – we said our first job was to get out of the group stage and then our second job was to go after the county.”
To that end, being able to avoid the quarter-finals is something else that can be taken to be a positive or a negative – though of course, it’s entirely outcome-based, where a win means you were fresh and a loss means you were rusty.
Beyond not having to tackle a tricky quarter-final,
“We're a dual club, so it's great to get that couple of weeks before the semi-finals to get a hurling block in, it stands to us greatly.
“We went back in to training and we were given a plan and went after that. It's great, we're with each other three times a week now.”
And helping them in that effort is coach Niall O’Halloran, recruited by manager Joe Burke. The Ballinhassig native guided Bandon to premier intermediate glory in 2016 and, when he became available after a short stint as Cork coach ended, the county’s loss was Bandon’s regain.
“Niall's been with Bandon now a few times and he's very well respected down here and rightly so,” McSweeney says.
“He has a great CV and we count ourselves very lucky to have him.
“We're doing what he’s telling us to do and and it's working, so no complaints, really.”
App?
