JAHC: Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's look to make most of opportunity

Following their first Carbery JAHC title in 2001, Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s would enjoy a fruitful decade in the south-west.

Four more divisional titles followed and the Castletownkinneigh club reached the 2008 county final, losing out to Dripsey.

However, following the 2010 win, they would have to wait another 14 years to add another victory to the roll of honour. The county campaign that followed was a short one, losing to Ballinora in a quarter-final, but, having regained the Carbery crown this year, they have already managed to improve on the 2024 showing.

Up against Whitechurch in the county quarter-finals in Páirc Uí Rinn a fortnight ago, Mathúna’s battled hard to draw level and send the game game to extra time before prevailing by 6-20 to 4-18.

That earned them a semi-final spot, with Donoughmore the opposition at the same venue on Sunday (2pm).

Selector Pat Lucey felt that there was great satisfaction to be taken from the way they built on their divisional win.

“It was great for Carbery hurling and, more importantly for ourselves, to get into the semi-final,” he said.

“In ‘24, we felt that we didn't perform that day against Ballinora and we wanted to rectify that against Whitechurch if we could at all and, thank God, we did.

“After the West Cork, there was one or two days of celebration, fair enough, but after that, they knuckled down and they were mad eager.

“What I thought was nice as well was that it was played in Páirc Uí Rinn, which was great for our lads to play there because they don't ever get a run out there.

“The Whitechurch game, it was a funny game as such – we started very well, led by four points at half-time and we extended out to seven early in the second half but we seemed to lose our way a small bit and Whitechurch really came into the game.

“We conceded a few goals and, before we knew it, we were down four, almost at full-time, but in fairness to the lads, they never gave up and we scored 1-1 to level it at the death.”

Human resources are always previous for Mathúna’s. At under-age level, they band together with neighbours St Mary’s and every effort is made to make sure that those coming through to adult grades are retained.

It’s a collective effort and one that provides a stability, especially in terms of being able to drawn on the experiences of 2024.

“It's almost the exact same, probably two different fellas, maybe 13 of 15 of the team two years ago,” Lucey said.

“Everyone has to step up, because, where we're from, we're very hemmed in where we are. Our pick is fierce small, so everyone has to put their shoulder to the wheel, otherwise all of this wouldn’t work, it’s as simple as that.”

Lucey knows that Donoughmore will be a tough opposition but, equally, he knows that this represents a big chance for his club.

“Yeah, it is a great opportunity and we’re really looking forward to it now,” he said.

“If you said it at the start of the year, even more so after we losing our first-round game in the group stages to Bandon, that if we win our next game that we'd be in the county final, I'd have taken your hand off.

“We'll be under no illusions. We didn't actually get to see Donoughmore because their game was on the same time as ours but, from what we heard, they're mostly young fellas and all fit so we’ll have our work cut out but we’ll be relishing the challenge.”