BY JACK McKAY

KILBRITTAIN have long lived at the sharp end of the fifth tier – lower intermediate - until the 2020 and 2021 seasons, before the rebrand to premier junior.

It’s as unforgiving a grade as exists. Five champions in five years, and every single one of them went up and stayed there. Castlemartyr and Lisgoold even pushed on to reach premier intermediate. 

Kilbrittain? Always there or thereabouts. Knockout stages in five of the last six campaigns, and semi-finalists in four of those.

The fight at the front has been a constant, and few know it better than Philip Wall – particularly when it comes to their upcoming semi-final opponents, Ballygarvan.

‘It's extremely tough, a very tough test,’ Wall begins. ‘We've played them a lot recently ever since 2010 back here, 15 years ago. But last year, they got the better of us – they were full value for their win, fully deserved it. 

‘They’re going really well this year, they had a great win against St Catherine’s the other day. So I don't think anyone in the group is under any illusions as to how tough this test will be.

‘We're looking forward to it, but we're under no illusions how difficult it's going to be.’

That 2010 clash with Ballygarvan came before Philip’s time, but not before that of his older brother, Jamie, who embarked on a coaching journey. Philip has already reaped the benefit of it, both with their club and during his Mary Immaculate days.

‘It was interesting,’ Philip explains. ‘It was a very, very different dynamic in Mary I than Kilbrittain. He probably would be a small bit more lenient with mistakes in Mary I, maybe then he would be with Kilbrittain!’ he laughs. ‘But it was a great experience. 

SS Body: ‘I loved my time in Mary I. I was really lucky to play Fitzgibbon and then later with UL, and to be on a panel that won a Fitz. Those experiences are brilliant and trying to bring that down to the club is great and having Jamie there those years was extra special. 

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t get over the line with Mary I or Kilbrittain, but great memories and great experiences.’

Those memories carry weight beyond Philip himself. Inspiration for him, yes, but for the whole Kilbrittain group, too.

‘Jamie's great. There’s a level of admiration and like I said in 2010, watching them play and his teams play all the way up is great inspiration for me, and for all of my all of my group,’ he explains. ‘We've a good age profile on the team this year. So we all would have grown up and looked up to, not just Jamie, but Ross Cashman, Maurice Sexton and Tom Harrington who’s still playing. 

‘My sister Kate is heavily involved, was playing with Cork this year, so it’s great. And my cousins, I've been lucky enough to be in a family environment that is heavily steeped in the GAA, and have high performers all around me so looking up to them and aspiring to be like them is a huge benefit for me and for my teammates.’

One of those cousins is Podge Collins, Clare’s former All-Star, who helped down Cork in the 2013 All-Ireland final. Divided loyalties for Philip, perhaps?

‘Ah with Clare? I did when I was younger alright!” he admits. ‘I think anyone who will see this will probably know that I had divided loyalties when I was younger. 

‘Definitely not now as I've grown up, as I like to tell Podge! But I suppose it's the same, like I said, with Jamie or Kate, especially with Podge and his brothers, who I'd be so close with, they'd be like brothers to me as well. 

‘Watching your family succeed and play at the stages like Croke Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh and all these places is really good and it's really motivating as well more than anything. 

‘I don't think there'd be any loyalty divide anymore to be honest. I'd shout for Cratloe, I think I'd shout for Cratloe against anyone except for Kilbrittain, maybe. But I don't think it would extend to Clare anymore!’ he laughs. ‘Unfortunately for Podge. They've won enough. He's won enough, he's okay!’