Munster Club IHC: Ballincollig keen to build on momentum

Winning the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC took a big effort, but nobody in Ballincollig wants to rest on their laurels.

Two weeks after beating Dungourney to claim the county title – improving on last year’s runners-up showing – the mid-Cork side are headed for Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday to take local side St Mary’s.

Ballincollig manager Eamonn Keating is keen for them to pick up where they left off.

“Yeah, look, winning the county was obviously fantastic,” he says, “it was a great achievement for the group.

“We're obviously looking forward to representing the club and the county in the Munster club championship – it's a new venture for us, it's a new experience.

“We're looking forward to it and hoping that we'll do ourselves justice next weekend.”

While it is a new experience for Ballincollig as a team, their squad features plenty of players who have lined out for Cork at various levels and the hope is that that will stand to them.

“We’re very fortunate to have an experienced coach there as well in Ronan Curran,” Keating says.

“We would be hoping that the main men would step up but, all the group all year, different players throughout different games, have been very strong for us as a group.

“The whole squad – lads being brought off the bench, they've all performed and they've all done their bit, so we'll need that again next weekend, we're in no doubt about that.

“It'll be a different challenge, a different experience, but, nonetheless, we're hoping to do justice to the group that we have.

“You won't know until you play it, but it’s a challenge going away to Tipp and we’re looking forward to it.

“We have a few fellas with knocks and niggles still. We won’t know until closer to the game and that’s just the way it is.”

Their opponents will benefit from hometown advantage while the presence of Jamie Wall in their management will ensure that they are ready for the challenge that Ballincollig will bring.

The visitors also know that they have a tough challenge ahead of them.

“We saw the highlights of their game with Killenaule in the Tipperary final and they look a good outfit,” Keating said.

“Look, any team you’re going to play in Munster, they've won their own county so they have to have something about them.

“Probably the two players that would be best-known would be Peter McGarry and Séamus Kennedy but, when you’re playing a Tipperary team that has won the county, you would expect them to be formidable.

“They'll be tough enough opposition, we’re expecting.”