For Dromina captain Kieran Cagney, the focus is simple, winning the Hibernian Hotel Avondhu Junior A Hurling Championship final at the Churchtown GAA Grounds.
“Hopefully we’ll win it, that’s the main thing really. We’ll try to prepare for it and try to get the win,” he said.
The divisional title carries huge significance for the club. “It is massive. We haven’t won it since 2017, and for most of the lads, including myself, it’s our first time playing in a final.
Playing against Kilshannig, who have given us a fair few beatings over the years, it would be massive for the club and the community,” Cagney added.
He insists the importance of the championship is never overstated: “Around here, it is everything to us. It’s North Cork bragging rights at its finest.”
Dromina’s semi-final run demonstrated their strength and determination. In a thrilling clash against last year’s champions Killavullen,
Dromina came out on top, finishing 1-15 to 1-12. Right from the throw-in, they settled quickly and built a commanding 1-9 to 0-3 lead at halftime.
Killavullen fought back in the second half, but Dromina’s early dominance ultimately proved decisive. Along the way, they produced emphatic victories over Shanballymore (4-21 to 0-11), Fermoy (2-18 to 2-10), and Charleville (1-29 to 0-21).
Cagney is confident the team can rise to the occasion. “Hopefully everyone will perform, with our scorers Johnny Murphy, Chris Dunne, Brian Buckley firing, and Davy Jones maybe reeling in the years for us,” he said. On tactics, he added: “Same as usual—go out, play 15 on 15, and win the game.”
The entire village is behind them. “It is massive down here. Must be a thousand flags gone up in the last week. Jamie Jordan has been flat out all week,” Cagney said.
All roads now lead to Churchtown, where Dromina will aim to reclaim the divisional crown and etch their name back into North Cork hurling history.
