Imokilly triumphed in a tense Cork hurling final on Sunday afternoon, with the stormy conditions playing a massive part in their victory over Sarsfields.
As Storm Ashley descended on Ireland, a weather warning was in place as the hurling faithful of the Rebel County descended upon SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoímh.
Imokilly captain Ciarán O'Brien opted to play against the wind in the first half, and his side went in at the break only six points down. With the breeze at their back after the break, they burst into life.
An utterly ruthless second half saw the divisional side put 1-18 on the board, ultimately running out decisive victors by 1-23 to 0-17 as their opponents Sarsfields struggled to deal with the turbulent conditions.
There were emotional scenes at the full-time whistle, as Imokilly claimed their sixth Cork county title.
Lining out for the victors was Cork star Séamus Harnedy, and he explained this week why the final had been such an emotional occasion for the Imokilly squad.
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Séamus Harnedy explains emotion of Imokilly's Cork championship win
20 October 2024; Imokilly players, from left, Ciarán Joyce, Adam Murphy, Dáire O'Leary, Seamus Harnedy and Mike Kelly of Imokilly celebrate with the Sean Óg Murphy cup after the Cork County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Sarsfields and Imokilly at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Brothers Ciarán and Darragh O'Brien were both in the Imokilly setup for Sunday's final, with Ciarán captaining the side to victory on the banks of the River Lee.
In May of this year, the O'Briens lost their mother Caroline, and the brothers were visibly emotional at the game's conclusion, with Cork inter-county star Séamus Harnedy joining them in an emotional embrace.
Speaking to Cork's EchoLive this week, Harnedy explained the special role Caroline O'Brien had played behind the scenes in Imokilly and why he had been so emotional at full-time.
She would have been very important to the club at home, she has three boys on that team and she was one of our biggest supporters at home.
[The O'Briens] are neighbours of mine and I’ve been around them all my life. They’re incredibly good lads and great servants of the club and obviously great servants of Imokilly as well.
It was especially poignant for captain Ciarán O'Brien, and Harnedy said that he knew his late mother would have been proud of him.
Him being captain was absolutely sweet. I hope she was very proud of him, I knew she would be. That’s why he was a small bit emotional and he was right to be.
