ALL-IRELAND champions! What a lovely ring there is to it. From now on every time the name of Kilbrittain is mentioned in hurling in Cork, they will be able to add ‘the All-Ireland champions’ in that conversation.

Did we ever think we would see the day here in footballing West Cork? The achievement of this Kilbrittain team will stand proudly next to the Carbery hurling team that brought the only county senior hurling title to West Cork 34 years ago.

The names of those great Carbery players are enshrined forever in Carbery hurling history and we can still name them all. It will be thus with the players from this Kilbrittain team in 34 years’ time.

David Desmond, rock solid between the sticks, coming out of Croke Park with his net intact. Fearless full back James Hurley flanked by outstanding corner backs, Darragh Considine and Eoin O’Neill. They had the unenviable task of limiting Easkey’s scoring star, Andrew Kilcullen, and how well they coped as Kilcullen only scored two from play for the 40 minutes he was on the field.

What would a Kilbrittain team be without a Sheehan on board and half backs Tomás and Colm have done that clan proud all season. They were immense under severe pressure in this final. At number five we had another great Kilbrittain name, Aaron Holland, and therein lies a real connection with the Carbery senior team of 1994 as his late father, Mícheál, was a real star of that team. Now Kilbrittain has another Holland hurling legend.

Kilbrittain’s success this season lay in ferocious work-rate on the pitch and none symbolised that more than the midfielder duo of Seán Sexton and the imperious Josh O’Donovan. We have sung the praises of O’Donovan since we coached him on the Carbery minor team and like old wine, he keeps improving with age. Sexton had the great privilege of raising a white flag in Croke Park, a memory for life.

Up front Kilbrittain are blessed with players who use their speed and hurling skills to great effect. This is a pure hurling forward sextet, a joy to watch in full flight. They were at their most dangerous when they went tearing through the Easkey defence on searing solo-runs.

Centre forward Bertie Butler, tireless worker, scored a point, gave it everything and his 1-3 against Kilrossanty in the Munster final was instrumental in getting to Croke Park. Wing forward Ronan Crowley, the game of his young life in Croke Park, man-of-the match, four points from play. What a story he has to tell his grandchildren in 50 years’ time. Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

On the other wing, the player of the year Mark Hickey whose scores all season were the foundation for this success. Nine points in an All-Ireland final, including the winning point in injury time, the stuff dreams are made of. His place in Kilbrittain history is now secure, a new legend is born.

Captain Philip Wall, another of our Carbery minors, tough as nails, never say die, black and amber to the core – he took on the mantle of his legendary brother Jamie and wears it with pride. His leadership qualities were outstanding, including his fine acceptance speech.

At corner forward were two of the younger brigade, whose ball-winning abilities and sharpness really stretched the Easkey defence. Conor Hogan, so close to two goals, scored a point, and Luke Griffin also scored a point and looked threatening all through. These lads have grown into men during this campaign and emerged as the side's top scorers from play during the historic march to the title.

Coming off the subs bench to great effect was Conor Ustianowski – he won the vital, last free that became the golden winning point by Hickey. Tomás and Declan Harrington, and Eoghan Byrne were all on the field at the final whistle to take their places in hurling history.

Don’t forget the team behind the team, without whose contribution nothing would have been possible. Jamie Wall had done huge work in recent seasons in building this squad of players and when he stepped down they looked no further than blow-in, Joe Ryan, a Ballinascarthy man with the golden touch as manager; His record with Bal spoke for itself and securing his services provided the missing part of the jigsaw. His reputation now as a top-class hurling coach has rocketed. By his side he had some outstanding hurling men, Damien Desmond, Aidan O’Connell, Padraig Maher and Terry O’Regan. They are all proud men following this achievement.

From now on the young lads of the Kilbrittain hurling club will have no need to look further than their own pitch for hurling heroes to imitate. They are living right there in their midst having trod the sacred sod of Croke Park to bring home the All-Ireland title. Like the 1994 Carbery win, it is in future years that the enormity of this unique achievement will really sink in. Kilbrittain abú.