WINNING the county title was the spark Kilbrittain needed to build momentum and confidence going into the Munster junior hurling championship, captain Philip Wall says.

The Carbery club enjoyed county premier junior glory when beating Glen Rovers on October 17th, and that was the ideal preparation for their provincial campaign that kicked into life with a semi-final win against Limerick club Knockaderry last weekend.

Joe Ryan’s team is now building towards the Munster final against Kilrossanty of Waterford in Mallow on Saturday, November 29th (1pm throw-in).

Kilbrittain had known after their county semi-final win against Ballygarvan on October 4th that they would go forward into Munster, as they faced Glen Rovers’ second team in the county final, but Wall says there is no substitute for the momentum gathered from winning the Cork premier junior title.

‘We knew we were going to be in the Munster championship six weeks prior to the Knockaderry game,’ Wall said, as the Kilbrittain captain picked up a West Cork Sports Star monthly award at the Celtic Ross Hotel on Tuesday night.

‘I think it would have been so incredibly difficult to go into the Munster championship as county runners-up. St Catherine’s did it and got to the All-Ireland final two years ago, which is an incredible achievement,

‘It was difficult to dust yourselves off and go again after a county win, never mind after a loss.

‘There was a long layoff after the county, which I think we needed to really soak in the moment and enjoy. But it's back to business now. We have a game on Saturday week and that's all our focus. We've got a job to do, and we’ll go to Mallow with the hope that we can keep the journey going.’

Kilbrittain were too strong for Knockaderry, winning 1-23 to 1-16, as Mark Hickey hit 0-12 while Luke Griffin added 1-2.