Cork county final 2024

Watergrasshill 2-16 Carrigaline 0-19

Unlikely champions. An unbelievable success story.

The story of Carey’s opponents this weekend has been that of a remarkable turnaround by a team who went through the past two years in the Cork Intermediate Championship without winning a single game.

Up to this season, Watergrasshill hadn’t won a championship group game since August 28, 2020. Before this season, the new Cork Intermediate Champions sole victory in three years was a relegation play-off.

From going three successive seasons without a single win, to winning this season’s campaign outright is some turnaround. Going into this season the odds of them winning their first ever Intermediate title seemed remote to say the least, but that is exactly what they did, and it was their first title in any grade in twenty years.

Speaking after their county final win over Carrgaline team captain Séan Desmond was understandably elated “That group inside there in the dressing-room are special. I’ve no other words for them. We are a bunch of best friends that go out and enjoy playing with each other.

“When things get tough during games, we have had big fellas step up, and it has been an amazing year.”

In the match report in the Cork Examiner the reporter was high in praise for their centre half back Daire O’Leary “Standing up on Sunday was Daire O’Leary. Immense at centre-back. Impossible not to see him getting League game-time with Cork next spring.

And possibly championship game-time along with it. Beside him in the half-back line, Michael O’Driscoll was a force.

Moving up the field and there was no greater attacking force than Adam Murphy. He won frees, converted frees, and clipped three from play.

Murphy, who hurled with Bandon last year, transferred back to Watergrasshill in 2024. He finished the campaign as their top-scorer with 1-39.

“Our luck wasn’t really with us over the last few years and we were probably lacking that small bit,” Desmond continued. “Adam Murphy coming back from Bandon, he is an absolute beast of a man for us to have in the club. You saw what Adam did for us throughout the year.

“He comes up with big moments, his scoring is off the wall. There is a massive relief for us when you have players like Adam that can get them over the bar and get goals, it makes it easier for everyone.”

Murphy, unlike his Premier Senior final exploits with Imokilly, was not among their goal-getters here. He did provide the assist for their first in the third minute, his sideline cut deftly flicked to the net by Padraig O’Leary.

Their second was the more important major, part of a fourth quarter burst that turned the tide and the result.

From the 45th to the 56th minute, Watergrasshill reeled off 1-5 without reply. From behind by the minimum to seven in front. A 0-15 to 1-11 scoreline reshaped to read 2-16 to 0-15.

That second goal was provided by Desmond. Collecting an Ian O’Callaghan delivery, he shook off the challenge of two Carrigaline defenders before shaking the net.

While admitting afterwards that “it wasn’t my best day at the office”, it has been some year at the office. Premier Senior and Premier Intermediate county medals within a month of each other.

Desmond was integral to the Imokilly cause. Three points in the county final, 2-12 overall. Their second highest scorer from play.

Imokilly lifted him and the six other Watergrasshill men part of Denis Ring’s panel.

“Eddie [Enright, manager] is unreal for that. The minute he came in, we had a discussion about playing for Imokilly, he was very obliging to us.

“To have seven lads from Watergrasshill with Imokilly and win a Premier senior, we’d never heard of that before in the club, not to mind having four or five of us on the pitch at the one time.”

To Carrigaline. In front by 0-12 to 1-8 at the break. Three quarters of an hour in, the double chase was still on course. They did not die easily after being hit for 1-5.

Brian Kelleher and Eanna Desmond conjured a four-in-a-row to pare the margin to a goal. David Griffin continued to rain in ball from centre-back. They almost found an equalising goal, their injury-time effort repelled by corner-back Dylan Roche.

Watergrasshill’s year. A year unlike those that came before. Celebrations first, then a provincial swing against Wolfe Tones of Clare this Saturday at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Scorers for Watergrasshill in Cork county final – A Murphy (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); S Desmond (1-1); B Lehane (0-3); P O’Leary (1-0); A Foley (0-1 free), M O’Driscoll, S O’Regan, C O’Leary (0-1 each).

Watergrasshill: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, D Roche; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Sprigggs, S O’Regan; C O’Leary, S Desmond, L Foley; B Lehane, A Murphy, P O’Leary.

Subs: A Cronin for Foley (44); I O’Callaghan for Field (45-47, temporary); I O’Callaghan for Spriggs (55); P Cronin for O’Leary (58).

Munster Club semi-final

Watergrasshill 2-20 Wolfe Tones (Clare) 2-13

Their victory in the Cork final set up a meeting against Clare champions Wolfe Tones of Shannon, home club All Ireland winning Clare manager Brian Lohan….and what a game it turned out to be. Despite conceding a goal in the opening minute Watergrasshill hit back to lead by 1-11 to 1-05 at half time.

They again conceded early at the start of the second half but they soon steadied the ship and soon stretched their lead. There was controversy when Wolfe Tones were awarded a penalty in last ten minutes, but after consultation with the linesman the decision was reversed and the Cork champions pushed on to win in the end by seven.

Munster Club final

Watergrasshill 1-21 Cashel King Cormacs 0-14

The Cork side held the upper hand against Tipperary champions Cashel King Cormac in the Munster final which was played in Limerick

Centre-forward Adam Murphy was the star of the show for Watergasshill, scoring in the first minute of the game. He went on to hit 1-12 overall, 1-05 of it from play.

Managed by 2001 Tipperary All-Ireland-winner and All-Star Eddie Enright, the Cork champions had the better of a tight first half, and their ability to strike back right away after every Cashel score helped them to a 0-10 to 0-08 lead at half time.

During the third quarter the Cork champions began to stretch the gap, but Cashel stayed in touch through the accurate free taking of Devon Ryan, until the mercurial Murphy struck with the only goal of the game which gave them a 1-15 to 0-11 lead. From then on it was plain sailing for the men from the Rebel county who were ten ahead at the final whistle.