Russell Rovers claimed their second Munster Junior Hurling Championship in five years yesterday when they overcame Kilrossanty 3-12 to 1-07 on a blustery day in Pairc Uí Rinn.
The Cork club's second Munster JFC in five years means they'll progress straight to the Junior All-Ireland semi-final.
While a stellar run in 2020 saw the Rovers play in the All-Ireland final, only to fall short at the last hurdle, this year, they'll be heading into the All-Ireland series having added two high-profile names to their ticket, a former Aussie Rules professional and Cork legend Donal Óg.
Despite a strong start from Waterford's Kilrossanty that saw them opening the scoring with an early goal, it wasn't long before an efficient Russell Rovers found their form and followed up four well-taken points with a 17th-minute goal to claim the lead. Kilrossanty's counter-attack didn't lie down however, answering Rovers single, with two more of their own to leave just two points separating the sides heading down the tunnel.
Russel Rovers emerged in the second half a new-found team, however, with Kilrossanty simply unable to live with the Cork side whose two further goals only complimented the non-stop flurry of points sailing over the crossbar.
9 August 2014; Carlton's Ciaran Sheehan following his AFL debut against Gold Coast Suns. 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership, Round 20, Carlton Blues v Gold Coast Suns, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, Australia. Picture credit: Greg Ford / SPORTSFILE
All-Ireland winner hails Donal Óg's influence
While Russell Rovers are no strangers to success, this is first time the team will head into an All-Ireland series, with Donal Óg Cusack on their coaching ticket, and former All-Ireland winner and AFL professional Ciaran Sheehan captaining the side.
Donal Óg joined the club's coaching ticket last December, having coached many of the team's stars at underage level following his own club Coyne's merger with Rovers.
Evidently, Cusack's appointment has been a successful one, with captain Ciaran Sheehan who has made two-trophy-winning speeches in as many weeks, hailing the impact of the two-time All-Ireland winner.
He's definitely brought an unbelievable professionalism and discipline to the group. It goes without syaing in terms of what he's done in the game, but in terms of his coaching ability and his ability to understand the players and what we need, that's what sets him apart.
There's nothing too complicated with what he does and I think that's what suits the group, and I think that's the way hurling should be played. We've really simplified it, but as I said it's an influence and he's been involved with a lot of these lads underage as well and there's a height of respect for him, so to be able to just have him around the place is enough in itself.
But for him to be out in the middle of the pitch with us, coaching us day in, day out it's extra special, and he has that aura about him, we all know that and as soon as he talks everyones quiet. In terms of coaching ability, he's a fantastic coach and we've learned a huge amount to this point, there's still more to learn and you'll always be learning from him every session we go out.
You could see it out there today, the way we played, the way we moved the ball, it's all coming at a good time now for us and he's just been a huge asset for the group.
From any amateur GAA star Sheehan's praise would be most glittering, but from a man who himself spent four years playing for professional AFL side Carlton in Australia, the praise is of the highest order.
In fact, Sheehan's successful captaincy of Rovers is just the latest in a long list of accolades for the former Eire Óg man. Having won his first and only All-Ireland football championship on his debut season with Cork in 2010, Sheehan would spend two further years with the Rebels before moving Down Under to play with Carlton.
While initially, Sheehan enjoyed much early success there, an injury-stinted four seasons would see him forced to return home. However, since then, Sheehan has continued to add to his accolades, rejoining the Cork Senior footballers in 2020, before joining the county's under-20 coaching ticket in 2022.
Now, Sheehan is lauding it in Junior Hurling, undoubtedly helping Donal Óg instil the professional mindset needed to claim All-Irelands at any level.
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