‘IT’S one big family’ – that’s how Kilbrittain GAA chairman Dermot Hayes describes the club.

‘This is my sixth year as chairman. I was involved until 2011 and then took a break. In 2020, the opportunity came up. I was asked and, reluctantly, took the job,’ Hayes laughed.

He’s glad he did now, with Kilbrittain just 60 minutes away from All-Ireland glory.

‘It’s a great place to be when you’re winning. Not just to win a county title, but to make it all the way to an All-Ireland final – it’s special, especially with all the family connections,’ Hayes added.

‘We’re lucky to have Marion Twohig as secretary, she’s in her 20th year. Oliver O’Brien as treasurer is brilliant too. I was lucky to come in with two great officers. It made my job easy.’

There is a genuine family feel to this Kilbrittain hurling team, and to the club in general.

The Desmond brothers, David (goalkeeper) and Damien (selector), are Hayes’ nephews. For David, this run has been extra special, having undergone a hip replacement in 2020.

‘With David, he had an operation and we didn’t think he’d play again, but he has turned out to be such an assured goalkeeper. When we won our last county title in 2010, David was corner-forward and Damien was corner-back. Here we are again this year,’ Hayes said.

‘Aaron Holland, Luke Griffin, Adam Griffin, Gavin O’Shea and Keith Hunt are all my cousins too. You can’t forget Emma Desmond, the PRO, David’s wife. It’s one big family.

‘David, along with Tommy Harrington, have been great servants for the club. It just goes to show – if you never give up, the chance might come.’

Chairman Dermot Hayes with the Munster cup. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

This has been a journey to cherish for the Black and Amber. County and Munster champions, and now an All-Ireland final, these are heady times for the club.

‘For those who win the premier junior next year, we hope they can do what we have done,’ Hayes said.

‘Days like this might never come around again – that’s the funny thing about it. You have one chance and you have to take it. This is an Easkey team that has won four Connacht titles in a row, so we’ll have to play well to beat them. They’ve been here before; this is our first time in Croke Park.’

The chairman also reflected on the scale of the achievement already secured.

‘It was the first time in the club’s history that we went into the Munster championship. The first day out against Knockaderry was a massive occasion, with huge support. Winning that game away was a great victory. Then the Munster final in Mallow brought another massive crowd.

‘This run has bonded the whole parish together. The support is frightening. It’s been a long 12 months, but it’s been rewarding.

‘For Carbery hurling too, this is huge. We’re the first team from Carbery to win a Munster hurling championship. Winning the county was the first priority. If we win the All-Ireland on Saturday, it would be a major achievement.’

Given the untimely passing of teenagers Oisín Gillain and Anne Enright in recent years, it has been a difficult time for the area, and this run has provided a welcome lift.

‘That’s the thing with sport – it brings people together,’ Hayes said.

‘In the last year or so, we’ve had tragedy in the parish. Two young people passed away. The team hung in there and now here we are, heading to Croke Park.

‘Another good thing about sport is seeing our neighbours wish us well. We’ve had good luck messages from Carbery and from surrounding clubs. We are representing Cork and Carbery on Saturday. We can only do our best after that.’

Hayes added: ‘It’s a reality now rather than a dream. We’re there. We never really thought about the Munster championship at the start. We were playing premier junior and had been knocking on the door for four or five years – semi-finals, and a final in 2021.

‘We knew if we beat Ballygarvan we’d represent Cork, but we wanted to do so as champions. We got a real drive in that final against the Glen in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.’

That drive, Hayes believes, stems from the influence of manager Joe Ryan and his backroom team.

‘One feature this year is how well the lads finish games. In the past, we were probably losing those sorts of matches. This year, they’re winning them in the last five or ten minutes. They never give up.

‘Joe Ryan has brought something new. He’s talking to the players, ringing them after training. Our strength and conditioning coach Mark Eaton has brought something special too. The players are so fit and well prepared.

‘We’re just one hour away from history,’ Hayes concluded.