THE rollercoaster of celebrating an All-Ireland junior hurling triumph and a West Cork Sports Star Team of the Year award shows no sign of slowing down for Kilbrittain’s players and supporters.

That’s hardly surprising, given the West Cork club’s magical run to Croke Park and the emotional scenes that followed.

So, for Philip Wall and Bertie Butler, two of Kilbrittain’s heroes, the opportunity to celebrate their West Cork Sports Star Team of the Year award was gratefully accepted.

A sizeable gathering of the club’s All-Ireland-winning panel, backroom team and supporters packed the Celtic Ross Hotel on Saturday night to continue the celebrations.

‘It’s been unreal and no one wants the celebrations to stop,’ Philip Wall told The Southern Star.

‘Maybe there was one stage last week – maybe – where it could have stopped because you’d be so tired!

‘It has been incredible and if we can’t celebrate this, we can’t celebrate anything. As a Kilbrittain hurler, this is the pinnacle so far anyway of what we can achieve.

‘I know we will try to add to that at intermediate, but all of this has been incredibly special. To do it with your best friends as well – that is the best feeling in the world.’

The Wall family enjoying the West Cork Sports Star Awards; from left, Philip, Jamie, Kate, Sheila and Michael. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

The reaction of Kilbrittain’s local community to their hurling heroes’ success was almost as special as what was achieved between the sidelines.

The outpouring of emotion at the final whistle in Croke Park and Kilbrittain’s triumphant return to their home parish is something that will live forever with Butler and his team-mates.

‘Meeting your immediate family at the final whistle was just an incredible feeling and something you couldn’t put into words straight away,’ Butler said.

‘It is still unbelievable, even thinking about it now – the homecoming and all the celebrations in Kilbrittain on the Sunday and Monday as well.

‘You are trying to meet everyone in the parish because you don’t realise how much all of this means to them until they stop and talk to you.

‘For us, as players, winning an All-Ireland was one of the best days of our lives. You don’t realise that, for people in the parish and local community, it was the same until they tell you.

‘It’s an unbelievable feeling to be part of something that you know is greater than yourself.’

Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Nicola Tuthill, David Gillick, Jake McCarthy and Graham Canty brought home the importance of Kilbrittain’s West Cork Sports Star Team of the Year award.

Special guest David Gillick presents the Team of the Year award to Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

‘This award is very, very special, as was the man next to me (Philip Wall) winning a monthly award last October,’ Butler added.

‘Philip is such an inspiration to us as our captain. He really drove us on this year.

‘This team is not over-reliant on any one person. Our success was down to the whole team, the whole panel, and that was important. That’s why we have such great team morale.

‘Winning the Team of the Year award is definitely a massive honour, and one Kilbrittain is very proud of.’

‘We spoke about how important it was to bring a hurling trophy back south of the viaduct,’ Philip Wall added.

‘This Team of the Year award is the same, and it is something that we cherish and hold dear to our hearts. To be recognised tonight, among so many other sports stars, is what makes it so special.

‘The monthly award that Bertie mentioned meant a lot to me and a lot to my family. To be recognised for our team effort with the Team of the Year award is even more special – even more so because all the lads still have their ties on! It is definitely really, really special.’

If and when Kilbrittain’s celebrations finally calm down, the prospect of the new club season will move sharply into view.

‘We are not thinking about that just yet because this all still feels like a bit of a dream to the lads,’ Butler admitted.

‘We will start to come back down to reality and think about that next week – or maybe leave it until the week after!’