WILLIAM Hourihane is excited by his new challenge: he wants to transform the Carbery senior hurling team into a force to be reckoned with.

The St Colum’s man, who takes over from David Whyte in the Carbery hurling hot seat, acknowledges they need to walk before they can run, but he sees real potential in the division.

Previously, he led his home Kealkill club to the Carbery junior A hurling final in 2013 – their first in 27 years and only their third to date – and he also knows the lie of the land in Carbery hurling.

While surprised to get the call, Hourihane quickly realised this was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.

‘Tim Buckley (PRO) called me, told me about it and then I met him. I had no intention of taking it on and never thought it would come my way. But it’s senior hurling, so this is an opportunity,’ Hourihane told The Southern Star.

‘I know it’s a tough gig. It’s a bit of a challenge, but I’ll have a good go because it’s a free shot in one sense. There’s only one way Carbery hurling can go: up. If I put the work into it, which I will, I believe we can do it.

‘Every manager thinks they can do something better. Hopefully I’ll get things organised and consider myself a facilitator to get the ducks in a row.’

Kilbrittain's Bertie Butler on a solo from Easkey's Fionn Moylan during the AIB All-Ireland final. Kilbrittain players are on board for this year's Carbery senior hurling team.

Hourihane is steeped in experience with his own club, and his passion for hurling is obvious. He feels this is the right time to step into a role like this.

‘As you get older, you change as a manager. You learn how to be calmer. Year on year, you become better. The manager’s role has changed – when you look at inter-county, for example, it’s more about putting things in place and having people around you,’ he explained.

‘It’s about giving the players as much as you can and hopefully they buy into it. Eventually, you’ll get something back. It might not happen in the first year but, if you have the right things in place, you’ll get the max out of your players.

‘With the clubs, they have schedules for hurling and football. It is very hard to tie in for players but we’ll try to get a few nights for training during the lead-up weeks, if we can. We’ll meet up in February, which is a bit earlier than any other year, and get going. That’s my plan.’

The ideal scenario for Carbery is to include players from Bandon, Kilbrittain, Argideen Rangers and Barryroe – all four clubs compete at county championship level – as well as junior clubs in the division.

There is good news on that front. All-Ireland and Munster junior champions Kilbrittain, who have blazed a trail for Carbery hurling with their recent success, are on board with the division’s hurling project this year.

‘I spoke to Joe Ryan and he’s fully on board with Carbery. Their players are available,’ Hourihane confirmed.

‘I’ll hopefully get the big four – Kilbrittain, Bandon, Argideen Rangers and Barryroe – involved. Barryroe are also interested.

‘We need the big clubs in Carbery involved to move forward. For them, playing at senior level is a big deal too. It’s a great box to have ticked. Playing at senior grade may be taken for granted by some, but for people here in West Cork, they should grab that opportunity.’

The quality of Carbery hurling is questioned at times, but the new divisional boss believes there is enough talent to compete.

‘Kilbrittain have class players but, to be honest, there are class players in every club. It’s trying to get them to believe it. If we can win a first-round game, momentum can gather. My ambition is to get a good crew in with me,’ Hourihane said.

It’s worth mentioning Bandon’s exploits in the 2025 county championship too. They were only a puck of a ball away from beating Aghabullogue in the intermediate A decider (losing 1-21 to 0-23) and impressed on their run to the county final.

‘What Bandon and Kilbrittain did last season has put West Cork hurling back on the map, big time – not that it should ever have been off it,’ Hourihane said.

‘I was at Bandon’s final and thought they were brilliant. They missed out by a whisker, but they were superb. Then there’s Kilbrittain – the run they went on was phenomenal. There is plenty of hurling in West Cork.

‘My opinion of hurling in West Cork is that we are as good as anyone up to 15 years of age and then we drift off a bit. Maybe football takes over.’

New Carbery manager William Hourihane.

The Carbery hurlers start off in the unseeded section of the divisional/colleges championship, with UCC and 2024 county champions Imokilly waiting in the semi-finals.

The unseeded section, where the final list of teams has yet to be confirmed, will take place in June. Two divisions will progress to the semi-finals where they will play each other, while UCC take on Imokilly.

‘There is a realistic target there to win your first game. If we can win the first round, we’ll see what happens after that. If we get to meet Imokilly or UCC, that would be a great first year,’ Hourihane said.

‘Carbery is another two- or three-year project really, whether it’s me or someone else. It’s tough but you have building blocks. You try to get a good foundation to reach that divisional final.’

Last season, Carbery hurlers lost to Avondhu (3-28 to 0-20) and Muskerry (3-16 to 0-15), but they did beat Duhallow in 2024, so there is a platform to build on. Hourihane hopes he can drive the project forward this year. Like he said, the only way is up.