Watergrasshill Notes (12th Nov)
- Nov 12,2024
Hill reach the promised land
Premier Intermediate Hurling County final
Watergrasshill 2-16 v 0-19 Carrigaline
It’s been a whirlwind few days in Watergrasshill. Last week, the tension was palpable around the parish, a chance to bring the Séamus Long cup back to the hill for the first time, since having last been in a final back in 2007 losing out to Carrigtwohill.
Whilst Eddie’s Enright’s calm demeanour was sure to rub off on his players in the lead up, this young side have also shown the steel and determination which epitomised the Tipp man’s star studded playing career, one which is now also extended to his successful management exploits.
The game itself was a great exhibition of hurling. Having seen our neighbours Lisgoold overcome Erin’s Own in the Intermediate A final, the big hill crowd were ready to cheer our boys on.
We got a great start when Padraig O’Leary flicked an Adam Murphy sideline into the net, after just 2 minutes, to register the opening score of the game. However Carrigaline reset and were level within 5 minutes. The sides traded scores for long periods, Brendan Lehane and Adam Murphy put us 2 ahead, Carrig got two back. Adam Murphy put us 2 ahead again, Carrig came back, sides level on 20 minutes. Our first real grip on the game cam from 20-25 minutes when a trademark long range effort from Aiden Foley, either side of scores from Brendan Lehane and Shane O’Regan put us 3 ahead after 25 minutes, however Carrig finished strong, 4 points without reply, to lead for the first time in the game, 1-08 to 0-12 at half time.
The half-time dressing room was calm, but the players knew themselves they had more, “we were at 70%, we knew we had to up the intensity and push on” remarked Seán Desmond after the game. However it was Carrig who set the second half tempo, stretching the lead to 2 points, before Seán Desmond and Ciarán O’Leary responded for the hill. Adam Murphy drew the hill level once again from a 65 on 14 minutes, 1-12 to 0-15 but in the next 10 minutes, the hill registered 1-05 without reply to “grab the game by the scruff of the neck” as they say. In that period Adam Murphy, Mick O’Driscoll and Brendan Lehane registered points for the hill, before Seán Desmond lifter the roof off the South Stand. A diagonal ball into Desmond from Ian O’Callaghan, which he took at speed, shrugged off two “robust” challenges from Carrig defenders and blasted into the city end net – the hill bench & indeed the south stand erupted, could it be our day?? The goal was followed by another Murphy point and now the hill had stretched to a 7 point lead, 2-16 to 0-15. But, Premier Intermediate hurling is a close affair, Carrig drove on again, whilst the hill began to fall back and concede frees – a symptom of what was on the line and the lead they had. 4 without reply left just 3 between the sides, a dangerous lead. And when Carrig had a free from their own 45, there was only one ball to be played, with about 20 players inside the hill parallelogram, the high ball was launched – time seems to stand still as the ball broke, bodies, hurleys, arm legs everything flying – then the sliotar popped up into the air, god only know how, Dylan McCarthy grabbed it and took off like Usain Bolt towards the south stand – but after just 4 paces, Simon Stokes blew his whistle and it was all over.
As you’d expect, what followed was incredible, the entire spectrum of emotions on display. The bench emptied onto the filed, players on their knees. In the stands kids screaming, older folks crying and hugging – it was magic, just magic. 5 or 10 minutes passed and the team ascended the step of the south stand to the acclaim of what seemed like multiples of the population of the parish – when Seán Desmond lifted the Séamus Long cup, it was met with cheers of “the hill are going up”. In the moments after, it was a chance for the players and their families to soak in the occasion, with babies and kids joining their dads on the pitch – however the WhatsApp started pinging, time for the Plan A homecoming.
Whilst you never want to count your chickens, fail to prepare and prepare to fail as they say, so there was a Plan A and a Plan B for the homecoming, luckily Plan A swung into action. It was fitting that Cúinne An Máistir in Watergrasshill, named in honour of An Máistir, Eamonn Ryan was the center of the celebrations. Adjacent to the Ryan family home once stood, you got the feeling that Eamonn was a happy man on Sunday night, a fitting tribute to man who put gaelic games in Glenville & Watergrasshill on the map.
With roads closed, barriers in place and the customary truck, courtesy of Mc Carthy Commercials in place, the team arrived home about 8pm – it was chaos, but fantastic chaos. A chance for the players and parish to celebrate together. Speeches, formalities and sing-song complete, a parade through the village followed which fittingly ended at The Hut Bar, which for many years has been the center of the GAA community in the village. John & Betty O’Neill are great supporters of the club and Sunday evening, ably assisted by a team of volunteers from Watergrasshill Community Association, they hosted the entire parish for one big party, well technical 2 a Monday was almost as busy as Sunday.
On Monday morning, the players were up bright and early, first to Glenville national school, then to Watergrasshill national school where the Séamus Long cup and indeed the Seán Óg Murphy cup, which was won by Imokilly were both paraded. These are magical moments, going back to where it all began for these lads, your first hurley, your first Sciath Na Scol match, inspiring the next generation of players. When the entered both school halls, the decibel levels were incredible, it’s amazing how much the players are idolised by the young kids – there were photo’s and autographs galore. A visit which will be remembered by those kids and indeed players for a long time to come.
With attention now turning to a Munster championship clash with Wolf Tones from Shannon on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn, the lads will only take in the magnitude of their achievements in a few weeks time. They brought so much joy to the parish, a growing parish were so much work has been done in recent years to provide facilities for the growing community. Where their exploits will be remembered for many years. As Padraig O’Leary put it after the game, they wanted to “inspire the kids of the parish, to play Senior Hurling with Watergrasshill” and that’s the first time we’ve been able to say that, happy days.
Watergrasshill: Aiden Foley, Shane Field, Dylan McCarthy, Dylan Roche, Mick O’Driscoll, Daire O’Leary, Kevin O’Neill, Ciarán O’Leary, Aaron Spriggs (Sub – Ian O’Callaghan, 55), Liam Foley (Sub - Anthony Cronin, 44), Adam Murphy, Shane O’Regan, Padraig O’Leary (Sub – Patrick Cronin, 58), Seán Desmond and Brendan Lehane.
Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy 0-8 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), S. Desmond 1-1, B. Lehane 0-3, P. O’Leary 1-0, A. Foley 0-1, M. O’Driscoll, C. O’Riordan & S. O’Regan 0-1 each.
Lotto
Amazingly, there was a Lotto draw in The Hut Bar on Monday evening. Numbers drawn were 8, 10, 17 & 19. There was no winner but lucky dip winners, who each receive €30 are Davina Reidy, Ciarán Moroney, Humphrey Collins and Deirdre Doyle. Congrats to you all. Next week's jackpot is a whopping €15,900 and draw will take place on 18th November in The Hut Bar.
Tickets are on sale in some of the village businesses like The Hut Bar, Johnny's Shop and our Lotto stand in Ross's Centra. Tickets can also be purchased on-line via our club website (www.watergrasshillgaa.ie). The Club would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and supporters of the Watergrasshill GAA Club Lotto. The Club Lotto is a vital source of income for the running of all our teams within the Club and for future development of our facilities, so we ask you to please support it if you are in a position to do so. Remember, if you’re not in you can’t win.
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday 16th November
AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-FinalWatergrasshill (Cork) v Wolfe Tones na Sionna (Clare)
Venue: Páirc Uí Rinn at 1:15pm
Recent Results:
Sunday 10th November
Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Championship Final
Watergrasshill 2-16 V 0-19 Carrigaline
