Ballincollig captain James Dwyer: We finally got the reward our efforts deserved

Ballincollig captain James Dwyer believes years of heartbreak made Sunday's county triumph all the sweeter as his side finally delivered on their potential with a 1-19 to 0-16 victory over Dungourney at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

He was understandably emotional after collecting the PIHC trophy, bringing to an end a journey that has tested the character and resilience of a group that has experienced its fair share of setbacks over the last number of seasons.

Having fallen short at various stages of previous campaigns, including last year's disappointment in the final, Dwyer felt Sunday's success was the reward for the hard work and belief that remained within the squad when others may have questioned whether they could get over the line.

"It's absolutely amazing," he said.

"I just can't describe this feeling. It's been a long time coming, to be honest, and we're absolutely delighted."

For Dwyer, the foundations for Sunday's success were laid long before Ballincollig ran out onto the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh pitch. He pointed to the commitment shown by the group since the end of the 2022 season and the confidence they always had in their own ability.

"This is a good group of hurlers," he says.

"We met up in the latter months of 2022 and had the goal of winning this. We knew we had the talent and we knew we had the people behind us.

"We knuckled down, worked hard and thankfully got away with a good win and a good performance today."

Ballincollig entered the campaign carrying the weight of previous near misses. While Dwyer's side were widely tipped as contenders, expectations alone guarantee nothing in championship hurling. 

"There wasn't much we could do differently from a hurling perspective, but we brought in a sports psychologist [Conor Quinlan] and he did a great job with us," Dwyer explained.

Everyone knew what was there in terms of expectations. There was no point pretending otherwise.

"We addressed it, worked hard on that side of things and it helped us finish the job."

Battle-hardened

That mental strength was evident throughout Sunday's contest. While Dungourney battled gamely, Ballincollig looked composed and assured, particularly after the break when they gradually tightened their grip on proceedings.

Having experienced defeats in semi-finals and finals in previous years, Dwyer felt those disappointments ultimately became valuable lessons.

"We've been through it all," he states. 

"We've lost semi-finals, we've lost finals and we've had plenty of setbacks.

"But because of that, we had the experience there. 

We knew what these days are about and we were able to use that experience."

The victory marks another significant milestone in Ballincollig's sporting story and is one that carries enormous meaning for a captain who has devoted much of his life to the club.

"It means everything," he said.  

"I've been involved with Ballincollig since I was a young fella. I've been around the club for most of my life.

"I know there are a lot of happy Ballincollig people today and to be captain as well makes it extra special."