The lead up to this game was strange in that this fixture was not expected until the first week of July. When June 21st was fixed foreign holidays had to be rearranged, pilgrimages cancelled and three players only arrived back in the country within the 48 hours before the game. Having said all that the team was fit and eager and the backroom management had everything in readiness. This was our first meeting with Mallow in championship. We defeated them 2-11 to 2-10 in the League in Rathcormac on Holy Thursday and before that we hadn’t met since Sunday April 18th 1937 when at the Town Park in Mallow, Bride Rovers defeated Mallow’s Senior Hurling Team in a practice match by 4-4 to 3-5.

The pitch in Ballyhooley was in excellent condition when referee Diarmaid Kirwan (whole uncle Jim played with us in the 1970’s) threw in the sliotar.

There was little or no wind advantage to either side. From the throw in Fergal McCormack joined Mark Buckley at midfield, marking Padraig and Brian Murphy. Barry Hazelwood opened our tally with a point from a free in the 5th minute. Our defence was well on top and we quickly began to dominate the proceedings. By the fourteenth minute the sides were level at 0-1 each, but tellingly we had shot 4 wides. A minute later Mallow went a point ahead from their second free. Then disaster struck as a ball coming out of our defence was reversed and ended up in the net. After 4 attacks Mallow had 3 scores. Donal Ryan lashed over a point to narrow the gap. 

In the 20th minute our goalie, Denny Fitzgerald, came out to take a free 85 metres from the Mallow goal. His shot hopped in the square and over the bar to cut the deficit to two. By now we had hit 11 wides, mallow restored their 3 point lead 1-3 to 0-3. After good work from Aidan Collins and Brendan Walsh, Pat Walsh and Jerome O’Driscoll combined well for Captain Sean Ryan to finish with a splendid goal in the 31st minute. From the puck out the half time whistle went. 

So after hitting 12 wides in 30 minutes we were level 1-3 apiece. We should have been 5 or 6 points ahead but could just as easily have been 3 behind. The lads knew what they had to do – continue in the same way and Mallow would win easily or else take the game by the scruff of the neck.

The second half was less than a minute old when Donal Ryan took a pass from Sean and hit a super goal. From the puck out Terry hit over a point. We were up 4 points and looking good. Before one could say ‘well done’ Mallow hit back with a goal. Barry Hazelwood restored our 2 point lead from a free in the 6th minute. Mallow had two points (one from a free) to level up matters by the tenth minute. Now the game was there for whoever wanted it most. The play was fast and furious with no further score for six minutes. Mike Hogan came on and immediately hit the sliotar over the bar. James Murphy sent the puck out back in and Jerome pointed. Now the crowd were giving tongue in earnest. 

Mallow fought back and two points in the 20th and 22nd minute levelled the scores at 2-7. Then came the vital score, Brian Murphy had been switched to centre forward and he won a ball 40 yards out, ran at the Mallow defence and finished with a superb goal. That put us a clear goal up. Diarmuid Kerrisk got one point back for Mallow. With the game entering the last 5 minutes tension really mounted. Jerome O’Driscoll restored our 3 point lead 3-8 to 2-8. 

Mallow were attacking furiously by now but our defence held firm. As the game entered injury time Mallow had a point. From the puck out they attacked again but Ronan Sheehan’s shot for goal was smothered by Niall Fitzgerald. Then Barry Murphy grabbed the sliotar and sent it sailing between the posts to put us 3-9 to 2-9 ahead. The ball was pucked out and at last the final whistle went. What a game and what a win. Since we went up Intermediate in 1999 this was our thirteenth championship game and surely our best win. When the game ended our players got a rousing reception from our great supporters.

As was said in the dressingroom afterwards we’ve won nothing yet but it’s great to be the first team into the quarter finals of the 2003 TSB Intermediate Hurling Championship. Great credit to all the 35 players on the panel, Jack Russell and the selectorial trio of Liam, Dermot and Anthony and all who helped in any way. It was great to see that a total of 9 players contributed to our tally of 3-9.