A NEW challenge for Kilbrittain, but the target is still the same: win, and prolong this super season.
Having conquered Cork, Joe Ryan’s men can now make it a famous double when they take on Kilrossanty of Waterford in the Munster junior hurling final in Mallow this Saturday (1pm).
The Déise men have experience at this level already, having competed in last season’s provincial final that they lost to another Cork club, Russell Rovers, who won 3-12 to 1-7. Hopefully, lightning strikes twice this weekend, and the Rebels’ champs are celebrating more success.
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Like Kilbrittain here at home in the premier junior competition, Kilrossanty also proved they were the best side in their championship, winning all seven games as Ardmore, Lismore, Stradbally and Ballinacourty all fell by the wayside before their final against Ballygunner’s third team.
Ballygunner had already won the senior and intermediate Waterford championships so were going for a clean sweep. However, Kilrossanty had other ideas, winning 1-17 to 2-11.
They then beat Clare side The Banner by a point in the Munster quarter-final (2-14 to 0-19), before a strong 4-14 to 0-11 semi-final victory over Tipperary’s Cahir. A noticeable name in their ranks is half-forward Padraig Fitzgerald – the Waterford senior hurler has scored 2-17 in the last two games, and also hit 0-25 for his county in 2025.
Other than Fitzgerald, the Kilrossanty side is made up of noteworthy footballers. Alan Dunwoody (who has scored 3-4 in the last couple of matches), Caoimhin Walsh, Donal Fitzgerald, Tommy Prendergast and Paul Whyte have been involved with the county’s footballers either currently or previously.
Kilrossanty have averaged a score of 25.22 points per game, conceding 15.55.
Kilbrittain’s margins as a comparison are tighter, 23.5 scored, 18.16 conceded. But we’ll argue that the championship is more competitive.
Both sides go into this game unbeaten in the championship. That run will end for one on Saturday. For the other, not only is it a provincial title but they are within touching distance of Croke Park for an All-Ireland final in the new year. Kilbrittain have the players, the momentum, and belief to take the next step. After dusting off the cobwebs in the semi-final against Knockaderry (1-23 to 1-16), they know they need to step it up a level, but they have that room for improvement.
