THE long wait will finally be over when Bandon lines out in a much-delayed county decider this Sunday, provided there are no weather warnings, of course.

The Lilywhites face Aghabullogue in the Co-op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (3.30pm), in what will be Bandon’s first competitive game in six weeks.

In contrast, Aghabullogue’s football adventures – and their recent county premier intermediate football triumph – mean they’re motoring along quite nicely.

Despite the long layoff, the buzz in Bandon is still strong. Flags and bunting are flying high around the town as the club gears up for its first county decider in nine years.

‘We’re thrilled, and there are ten other teams that would love to be where we and Aghabullogue are,’ Bandon boss Joe Burke told The Southern Star.

‘Everyone is excited about it, and the fact it’s on in the Páirc makes it even better again. It’s a massive occasion for the club.

‘Finals are there to be won. Over the years we’ve got to finals and lost them. Nobody remembers who loses the final, it’s winner takes all. We’ll be going there to give it our very best, to get over the line and come away with the cup.’

As soon as Bandon learned that the original final date (Saturday, October 18th) wasn’t going ahead, they arranged a training session for the following day, believing the game would be played within two weeks.

Instead, it turned into a four-week wait – a long time in limbo – but Bandon have done their best to stay ready and sharp.

Bandon manager Joe Burke.

‘We haven’t been in a county final in nine years, so when we beat Sars (on October 4th), and leading up to the original fixture, there was massive excitement,’ Burke said.

‘Obviously there was a bit of a lull for the past couple of weeks, but it’s after picking up again. It’s back on people’s minds now because the fixture is set, and people are getting up for it again.’

With almost a decade since their last county final appearance in 2016, this is a new experience for the younger generation in the area. Bandon is a proud dual club with deep roots in both hurling and football. And this is where they feel they belong: competing on the biggest days.

‘The kids around the club are fiercely excited because a lot of them haven’t been to a county final for the adult team. There’s great excitement around the town, the community, and the club especially,’ Burke added.

Aghabullogue’s main threats come from the men who were central to their recent football success against Uibh Laoire – Matthew Bradley, Luke Casey, and John Corkery – all big-game players. But there’s no shortage of quality in the Bandon camp either. Former Cork star Michael Cahalane is their top scorer, while Mark Sugrue and Darren Crowley provide steady leadership.

The club’s younger brigade has impressed, too. Take Jack Cullinane, for example. Captain of Hamilton High School’s Simcox Cup-winning side and still a teenager, yet he’s already hit 4-10 from play in this year’s championship. Add to that, Bandon’s minors reached the county Premier 2 final last month.

No matter what happens on Sunday, the club is clearly in a strong place.

‘We’ve had a couple of lads come out of minor last year and they’ve had successful seasons stepping up. Thankfully they’ve all done very well,’ Burke said.

‘We have great numbers training – over 30 players – so we can play internal games. There are 20 playing places up for grabs. Everyone saw the semi-final team, but that won’t necessarily be the same the next day. It’s a very competitive environment.’

For Burke, continuing that development pathway is vital.

‘The underage teams have been doing really well these past few years. There are good people involved, and a lot of teams are playing at premier grades in both hurling and football,’ he explained.

‘Things are going well, but we have to make sure we bring players through from underage into adult level – that’s critical. Historically there’s always a drop-off when lads leave minor. Some walk away from the GAA, but if they’re successful and enjoy it, you’d hope they’ll stay involved.’

For now, though, all focus is on the intermediate final. A county title is up for grabs – and as Burke put it, the winner takes all.