KILBRITTAIN 0-19

EASKEY 0-18

HISTORY was made in Croke Park on Saturday as Kilbrittain became the first West Cork hurling team to ever win an All-Ireland club title.

The Black and Ambers had to dig deeper than ever before to see off Sligo side Easkey, who finished the game with 13 players after two second-half red cards, including the loss of their star man Andrew Kilcullen after 39 minutes.

With the game almost destined for extra-time, up stepped Kilbrittain’s top scorer Mark Hickey to nail an injury-time free to fire his team into the history books. All-Ireland champions, to follow their Munster and Cork triumphs. It has been a season like none other. The stuff of dreams.

Party time for @kilbrittaingaa, All-Ireland club junior hurling champions. pic.twitter.com/cZMLUhNXxl

— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) January 10, 2026

Kilbrittain trailed 0-11 to 0-10 at the break, rallying well after being 0-10 to 0-5 behind at one stage. Easkey were certainly no pushovers and were extremely clinical in the opening half – they hit their first wide after 26 minutes.

But the Connacht champions were hit by the sending-off of top attacker Kilcullen early in the second half, a straight red after an awkward collision with Mark Hickey. It went from bad to worse as, within two minutes of Kilcullen’s dismissal, Kilbrittain moved 0-14 to 0-12 ahead, their biggest lead of the game. Philip Wall, man-of-the-match Ronan Crowley, Luke Griffin and Hickey were all on target as the Carbery men outscored Easkey by 0-4 to 0-1 to take control.

However, Kilbrittain failed to make their extra man count as Easkey rallied – three points in a row saw them back in front, 0-15 to 0-14, with Finnian Cawley, Rory McHugh and Thomas Cawley (free) all scoring.

This battle was going to the wire, as it was Kilbrittain’s turn to make a burst for the finish line. Wall, Crowley and Hickey (free) all scored again to nudge them back in front, 0-17 to 0-15, with five minutes left.

The sides swapped scores, a brilliant effort from Easkey corner back Oisín Moylan from the Hogan Stand side cancelled out by Crowley’s fourth of the day.

Extra-time looked on the cards after Thomas Cawley hit a late brace to level this enthralling final, but there was another twist to come.

Nóim 62@kilbrittaingaa 0-19@EaskeyGAA 0-18

Fionn Ó Conaill ag fáil a dhara buí agus dearg anois, nóiméad amháin fágtha ar an bpáirc 🟥⏳

Killbrittania nail the winning score from free puc

BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/0xyUoKuN1h

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 10, 2026

Kilbrittain sub Conor Ustianowski won a free two minutes into injury time – the Black and Ambers had legitimate calls for fouls ignored just beforehand – and up stepped Hickey to hold his nerve and fire the winning score. Easkey’s Fionn Connolly received a second yellow for the free and his side was reduced to 13.

Kilbrittain weren’t at their best, but delivered when it mattered most, especially at the end of the first half when they trimmed the Easkey lead from five points down to one, with Mark Hickey hitting four in a row to haul his side back into a contest they then went on to win, sparking huge celebrations.

Scorers 

Kilbrittain: Mark Hickey 0-9 (5f); Ronan Crowley 0-4; Philip Wall 0-2 each; Bertie Butler, Sean Sexton, Conor Hogan, Luke Griffin 0-1 each.

Easkey: Andrew Kilcullen 0-6 (3f, 1 sl); Thomas Cawley 0-5 (2f); Finnian Cawley 0-2 each; Eanna Moylan, Daniel Rolston, Ronan Molloy, Rory McHugh, Oisín Moylan 0-1 each.

Kilbrittain: David Desmond; Darragh Considine, James Hurley, Eoin O’Neill; Aaron Holland, Tomás Sheehan, Colm Sheehan; Seán Sexton, Josh O’Donovan; Mark Hickey, Philip Wall, Ronan Crowley; Conor Hogan, Luke Griffin, Bertie Butler.

Subs: Tomás Harrington for O’Neill (48), Declan Harrington for Butler (54), Conor Ustianowski for Hogan (55), Eoghan Byrne for Considine (62).

Easkey: Adam Rolston; Oisín Moylan, James Weir, Shane Molloy; Donal Hanley, Rory McHugh, Eoghan-Rua McGowan; Ronan Molloy, Niall Kilcullen; Éanna Moylan, Finnian Cawley, Daniel Rolston; Thomas Cawley, Andrew Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly.

Subs: Fionn Moylan for É Moylan (ht), Cormac Vereker for Rolston (48), Patrick Walsh for Molloy (58).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).