Castlehaven sharpshooter Michael Hurley the man for the big occasion again

Two weeks apart, what a contrast.

There is context to Hurley’s long and lonely semi-final sideline walk. He injured his ankle 23 minutes into their Round 2 victory over St Michael’s in mid-August. He was fit enough for only a minute or two of action at the end of their Round 3 win over Carbery Rangers four weeks later.

Four weeks further on, he was back in the starting team. It was not a happy return. Where older brother Brian put on an 11-point kicking clinic, Michael was scoreless and substituted eight minutes into the second period.

“Look, I didn't have a lot of football played going into that game. I don't think I was sharp. I wasn't as fit as I'd like. Confidence was low. That comes with not playing football,” Hurley recalled amid the scenes of celebration following Sunday’s county final whistle.

“I was fairly hard on myself after the Barrs game. Obviously it is a team sport and we got the win, but I went back to the drawing board and had a look at my own performance. I think I learned a few things from that game.

“It is a team sport, but everyone has their own role within that wheel. You have to hold yourself accountable and have a good respect for the other lads.” 

On Sunday gone, Hurley showed up for himself and his teammates. The 28-year-old was out front with Jack Cahalane - in every sense.

He had two points pinched by the eighth minute. He then kicked a most important third right on the stroke of half-time to leave the champions behind by only the minimum turning around. His magnificent fourth was at the end of a Haven three-in-a-row to leave the champions two in front.

His four from play matched his four from play in last year’s decider. A man for the biggest of occasions.

“I said last year that it is not about me. Jack got man of the match, but it is not about the individuals, it is a team sport we play and that is why we are here. I am proud to be part of this group.

“I think it comes from our young lads. I've said it to everyone I've met, we have some amazing young lads. They are really, really grounded. Some of them haven't lost a game in the Cork county championship at senior level, so they don't really have a right to be grounded.

“They are the fellas that drove us on today. They are an amazing group.” 

For the decade between their 2013 and 2023 titles, Castlehaven were always part of the conversation. But they were never first mentioned. Neither did they ever set the tone of that conversation.

Lost finals in 2015 and the delayed 2020 decider. Lost semi-finals in 2018, 21, and 22.

Sunday’s successful defence removes all doubt from the Cork football conversation. Castlehaven are enjoying an era of dominance that no one outside of Nemo has managed since the beginning of the 1990s.

“I think we did need to add this to last year,” Hurley continued.

“Nemo and the Barrs have had a lot of success in the last 10 years. We'd been knocking on the door and being mentioned in a few conversations with them, but this two-in-a-row, and add in our Munster last year, we should be in that conversation as one of the good teams.

“We have had an awful lot of disappointing moments since we won in 2013. Last year was obviously very special. There are a lot of teams who have won it in Cork, or in any county for that matter. But it takes an amazing team to win two-in-a-row, especially against a team that have the history that Nemo have.

“Very grateful that it wasn't just a one-off year last year. Back-to-back isn't done that often, especially against Nemo. This is special, really special.”