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Brian Hurley celebrates with Damien Cahalane after yesterday's win. INPHO/James Crombie
GAA

What's it like to kick 12 points and your club win a county football final?

Castlehaven retained their Cork senior title yesterday with a win over Nemo Rangers.

BRIAN HURLEY KICKED a dozen points for Castlehaven yesterday as the West Cork outfit defended their senior county title.

They claimed back-to-back crowns for the first time in their history thanks to a 0-16 to 1-11 win over city outfit Nemo Rangers.

“The second time is nearly sweeter again. It’s unbelievable,” the senior Cork star said afterwards. “We experienced the loss in 2011 final, that stood to us as none of us wanted to go back there. It hasn’t sunk in fully yet. We lost a few players last year, we really had to dig deep then during the winter.

“It’s been three years where we’re all on the road together. Niall (Cahalane) says we’re the best team that Castlehaven have had but I doubt that with the legends that went before like Cleary, Tompkins and Niall himself. We’re just trying to keep the tradition going. We’re a small place on the map but we’ve no other sports down there, it’s just football.”

He adds: “It’s been said before but it’s true that we go everywhere together. It’s not a couple lads who play a round of golf, it’d be 10 of us would be heading off. We follow each other around and that makes us tighter. Club is family and that’s what we’re about.”

Hurley’s 12 points will obviously earn him the headlines but he insists he’s just doing what’s expected.

“I’m in the inside line and that’s my job. It’s a team effort and it comes down to that. There’s no individuals,” he says. “There was a lot of ball coming my way and it was a day thankfully where it clicked. The supply of ball was top class, it was straight into the chest and I didn’t have to run too far left or right. That definitely helped. I thought our midfield was outstanding and the defence was just great in the second-half.”

And is often the way in these wins, Hurley will look back on a game he won with friends but also with three brothers. Brian started alongside Stephen while Shane and Michael came on as subs.

“It was brilliant to have them there. Michael wasn’t involved last year so it was sweeter again with him there. He’s coming up along the ranks and that’s great,” he says.

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Pic: Brian Hurley

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