Club Hurling Finals | History favours Cork & Kilkenny Teams

There’s a sound the sliotar makes hitting the wall in the warm up room in Croke Park. A cross between a click and a wet slap. As the balls are driven off the wall, occasionally they come into rhythm with one another, then out of sync. The sound fills the room, echoes until another puc takes over. Right side. Left side. Driving the butterflies and nerves off the blank wall. The Sliotar seam leaves a black mark like a sharpie stroke on the white wall. Poc. Poc. Poc. Get the eye in. the touch in. Before you step back into the changing room and a different noise overtakes you. A smell of liniment and Rub. The taste of a sports drink. The feel of ash and sliotar on palm. A table laden with water, fruit and juices. Pulling on the club jersey. Same as so many times before. But this time its different. Croke Park.

Kilkenny playing Monaghan in a hurling All Ireland final. Sure that’s only going to end one way, on paper anyway. Just as well this game of ours isn’t played on paler then isn’t it? No it’s Croke Park. Underestimate the men from Monaghan and Ulster at your peril. A few years back unfancied Eoghan Rua from Derry took Glenmore all the way in the junior final and but for some wayward shooting could have completed an unlikely giant killing act. Castleblayney hurling club are a stronghold of the game, quietly admired and encouraged for driving it on in Monaghan. After Fergal Rafter’s late late winner broke Cushendun hearts, the All Ireland semi final was a more sedate affair though Castleblayney felt they didn’t hurl well against not Carrick they’re maybe saving it for the final.

Dunnamaggin came through a tough, tough test with Cloughduv and with nine time All Ireland winner Noel Hickey as well as Willie Phelan and Michael Cody on board they are formidable foes for anyone in an All Ireland Junior final. They say the win over Cloughduv took everything. Hurling. Will. Honesty. They’ll need it all and more on Sunday again in Headquarters. Cats legend Hickey last featured there in 2012 as a late sub against Galway in the All Ireland final. He’d said his goodbyes but now says its great to be back.

In 1997 Dunnamaggin won a Kilkenny Senior championship before the drop to Junior. This campaign will fast track their youth development they say. A winter’s hurling and the scent of an All-Ireland will drive them on. The scene is set. Will it be the usual suspects or the year of the underdog?

Charleville’s corner of Cork is no stranger to Croke Park glory with their neighbours Newtownshandrum tasting All Ireland success, as well as the formidable Milford camogie team. Charleville head for headquarters with the hope that Darragh Fitzgibbon is good to go. When Andrew Cagney laced home a close-range goal the All Ireland final was within their grasp. For manager Ben O’Connor Croker is a familiar hunting ground with his club and county - he captained Cork to an All-Ireland in 2004, and his Charleville team play a familiar brand of running hurling. The turf accountants have them odds on favourites. Based we assume on the strength of Cork club hurling.

But for all that, Oranmore Maree will be a stern test. Gearóid McInernry and Niall Burke drive them on and they’ve had a boost with the news that Alan Bannon’s red card suspension was lifted. Burke hit eleven points of his club’s tally of 1-13 total against St Galls. Oranmore Maree could be the first Galway team to win an Intermediate All Ireland but a tough encounter awaits, made tougher if Darragh Fitzgibbon passes fit.

O’Neills wishes each of the hurling clubs all the best in the All Ireland Finals this weekend.