MOMENTUM – Winning is a habit for Kilbrittain right now. They have played eight games in this season’s championship and won every single one. Victories against Ballygarvan, Glen Rovers and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy emphasise that they know how to see out tight games. That experience will be vital on All-Ireland final day. ‘The buzz grows with every win,’ Bertie Butler said on the Star Sport Podcast recently. ‘We’re very grateful for all the good vibes going on with us at the moment.’ That confidence could count for so much heading into the final furlong.

GOAL THREAT – The Carbery club has only failed to hit the back of the net in two of their eight games thus far, against Barryroe and Glen Rovers, which indicates that they know how to go for the three-pointer. The goals in their semi-final win over Davidstown through Luke Griffin and Conor Hogan were decisive scores. Those two players have found the back of the net three times each. Other goal scorers include Mark Hickey, Bertie Butler, Philip Wall and a clutch goal from sub Conor Ustianowski in the county semi-final against Ballygarvan. This is a group capable of going for the juggler, and that could be huge on Saturday.

DEFENSIVE PLAN – Earlier in the season, Joe Ryan’s side pulled off a master-stroke in putting experienced campaigner James Hurley on Kilrossanty star and Waterford senior Padraig Fitzgerald in the Munster final. The forward hit just 0-1 from play in that game. The West Cork side did quite a good job on David Dunne against Davidstown too. This Saturday, they have another top club forward to keep tabs on in Andrew Kilcullen who has scored 15-77 so far this season. Having seen their man-marking and defensive system plans excel in their run, there is no reason why that can’t be replicated on the biggest stage of all.

THE MIDDLE THIRD – A lot of attention has been aimed at the forwards on the side but their middle men, from 5 to 12, have been fantastic so far. In the county final against the Glen, the half-forward line hit 0-16 between them. Even the midfielders in that game, Josh O’Donovan and Sean Sexton, struck a combined 0-3. Their half-backs in Aaron Holland and the two Sheehans, Thomas and Colm, have put in hard yards too. That same workrate will be paramount to see a historic triumph for the West Cork club and they are well primed.

SIDELINE SMARTS – You won’t find a man who has more passion for hurling in the region than Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan. The work he has done for the small ball with the Carbery divisional side and his native Ballinscarthy cannot go unnoticed, and even his spell in John Considine’s backroom team in 2024 has given him a great bond with the Kilbrittain players. The plans he comes up with to counteract teams, the subs he brings on, such as Ustianowski in the county semi-final, and his drive made him the perfect candidate for the main position. If Kilbrittain go ahead and win in the big house on Saturday, Ryan’s fingerprints will be all this.