Garryspillane manager Darren Hayes – “To get over the semi-final hurdle was a big thing for us.”

Following their fourth year in the Premier Intermediate hurling ranks Garryspillane will again have the chance to make it back to the senior stage when they take on Murroe Boher this Sunday. Having been involved in the last three semi-finals manager Darren Hayes says getting over the semi-final stages was a big achievement for his side.

“Fourth time lucky, a lot of boys put in big effort all year just to get to this point and to get over the semi-final hurdle was a big thing for us.”

It looked as though The Bouncers were set to miss out on the final again following a poor start to the semi-final against Feohanagh but a strong second half performance helped Hayes’ side overturn a five-point deficit at the half to go on and record a 3-11 to 2-09 win.

“Second half we came out and tried to do the simple things right and thankfully it worked. In fairness they dug deep, we knew Feohanagh were a class side. They gave us a bit of a trimming in the group stages but look, that’s the way it turned out on the day, it was a big win for us.”

PIHC SF HT Garryspillane 3-11 Feohanagh 2-9
Hon the Bouncers

— Garryspillane GAA (@GarryspillaneGA) September 24, 2017

Garryspillane are flying high this year, claiming their first ever Premier Minor Hurling Championship this month, to add to the achievement of reaching the Premier Intermediate decider.

“To be fair to them since they were under 13 they’ve been awesome, they’ve won the whole way up along. There’s seven or eight of them eligible to play with us next year so hopefully they’ll kick on again and we’ll go from strength to strength.”

The Bouncers claimed victory over Murroe Boher already this season in the group stages, however, Hayes doesn’t think it will count for much come county final day.

“Come county final day that will count for nothing. It was a game we had to win at the time, we were under pressure Murroe were going well at the time, they were probably going to qualify anyway. It was a game we had to win and we dug deep and won it, hopefully it will be the same come Sunday.”

William Tobin, Murroe/Boher captain and David Ryan, Garryspillane captain. Picture: Keith Wiseman

Limerick Senior Hurling captain James Ryan is an injury doubt for Garryspillane coming into the big game, Hayes reiterates Ryan’s importance as a leader but has confidence in his squad should he fail to prove his fitness ahead of the game.

“Everyone knows Jim-Bob is an integral part of our team, he’s our leader. If it is that he can’t play we still have fifteen fellas on fifteen. Everyone is hoping that he can play, for himself and for the club but if he can’t we’ll just have to kick on without him.”

County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final, Gaelic Grounds, 13:30, Ref: Jason Mullins.