DAVID Desmond feared he might never play hurling again, yet here he is with a second county medal and a Munster winner’s medal in his back pocket.

The Kilbrittain stalwart and club icon, along with Tom Harrington, were the only two survivors from the 2010 intermediate county-winning side involved in this history-making 2025 campaign. That longevity alone is remarkable, but Desmond’s road back makes it even sweeter.

In 2020, the Kilbrittain goalkeeper underwent a hip replacement. At that stage, he genuinely thought his playing days were over.

‘I was semi-retired in 2020,’ Desmond admitted. A positional switch ultimately revived his career. Back in 2010 he was corner-forward; now, at 40, he’s the man minding the square.

‘I thought that was it. I was managing the second team in 2021 and 2022. I came back in as the second-team goalie – that’s how I tried it out,’ he explained.

‘It makes it all the sweeter to come back. I thought it was all over, no doubt about it. But I got back to the gym, back training. I felt good. I played in goal at the start of my younger days so I said, why not give it another go?’

David Desmond and his daughter Leona with the Munster cup.

For Desmond and Harrington (35), the 2025 county title was one to savour. Kilbrittain ended a 15-year wait for an adult county crown in October, beating Glen Rovers 0-22 to 2-15 to win the premier junior championship. Desmond is the only player to start both the 2010 and 2025 deciders, though Harrington started earlier games this season and was unlucky to miss out on the final.

‘County titles don’t come around a lot and some people aren’t as lucky as we have been to win one or even two. We had a couple of football titles along the way as well,’ Desmond said.

‘Every county title you can get, no matter the grade, is special, even more special with the team in the parish you grew up in.’

So, will he give it another year?

‘I’m older than the manager (Joe Ryan) now at this stage!’ he laughed.

‘I’ll have to talk to my wife about that! There’s Owen McCarthy, the junior A goalie, pushing me out. He’s outstanding. Darragh Crowley will come up out of minor soon too.

‘My days are numbered, I’d say. Look, if I get the call and the position is there, sure why not? While I’m able!’

The Kilbrittain team celebrates after defeating Kilrossanty in the 2025 Munster club junior hurling final in Mallow.

The Munster junior hurling title, claimed in November after beating Kilrossanty 2-17 to 0-9 in Mallow, was monumental. Kilbrittain became the first West Cork club ever to win a provincial junior hurling championship. A landmark for both club and Carbery.

For the squad’s elder statesman, it was the fulfilment of a dream.

‘For a small club, this is the stuff you dream about on dark, wet Tuesday nights in February,’ he said.

‘A county title will always be special, but this is history. It’s the first Munster title for Kilbrittain and the first for any Carbery club. We’re not just making memories, we’re rewriting history.

‘The pride around the village is unreal. Lads who haven’t shouted since 2010 suddenly found their voices again, and you’d swear the flags are breeding around the place!’ he joked.

‘It’s bigger than any win we’ve had because it’s not just ours, it’s a win for the whole division. It’s massive to have two county titles, but winning a Munster really is the stuff of dreams.’

The success also signals a bright future. From Desmond in goal to scorer-in-chief Mark Hickey up front, this team has proved that West Cork can produce top-class hurlers.

‘It gives the younger players belief. Suddenly every child in the parish can look at that Munster trophy and think “why not me next?” The buzz around the club, the crowds at training, the kids pucking a ball off every wall in the village, it all grows,’ said Desmond.

‘When young players see their heroes – fellas they see around the village – winning Munster, it makes the dream real.

‘It also lifts standards. The bar has been set and the next group won’t settle for anything less. If anything, the biggest problem will be getting them back in the door when they’re out practising all day! This win isn’t just for today, it’s planting the seed for the next ten or 15 years of Kilbrittain hurling. And if this is what the first Munster brings, the future could be very exciting altogether.’

Desmond’s career has always been rooted in family, and that thread runs through the club too. His brother Damien, now a selector, was part of the 2010 team. His wife Emma is Kilbrittain’s PRO. His mother Margaret helps with the jerseys. The chairman, Dermot Hayes, is his uncle. And cousins Josh O’Donovan, Aaron Holland and Keith Hunt are all on the current panel.

‘I’ve played hurling all my life. I travelled around the county with my father, barely missed a game,’ he said.

‘Our family is hugely into GAA. My brother has been involved all his life, my mother has been washing jerseys for as long as I remember, my wife is the PRO, my uncle is the chairman and I’ve a couple of cousins in the starting lineup. It’s fantastic. It’s a big GAA family.’

Desmond and Harrington might be the last men standing from their generation, but the club is in strong hands. The Class of ’25 has injected energy, ambition and quality. Experience is almost surplus to requirements.

‘They’re nearly showing me the ropes at this stage. I stand back and let them at it. They’re a fantastic bunch. My job is nearly complete and I’m very lucky to be in the position I’m in,’ he said. ‘We have a great young team and more players coming in next year. We’ll have a go at intermediate. We won’t fear anyone. It’s great to get our intermediate status back. Kilbrittain were intermediate for as long as I can remember. Premier junior didn’t sit too well, but it’s great to be back.’

For Desmond, being part of this group and this season has been a privilege. He doesn’t know how long he has left, but he’ll savour every minute, and he’ll never forget the year Kilbrittain rewrote their history.