Prior to this season, Watergrasshill hadn’t won a championship group game since August 28, 2020. Prior to this season, Watergrasshill’s sole championship victory in three years was a relegation play-off.

From three successive seasons without a single group win to county champions. What a transformation. A maiden Premier Intermediate county title. A first county title of any kind in 20 years for the club.

The winners’ final quarter was devastating. 1-5 without reply. From trailing by the minimum to seven in front.

Adam Murphy brought his team level on 45 minutes. 1-12 to 0-15. The same player then won and converted a free on 48 minutes to return his team in front for the first time since the 29th minute.

Half-back Michael O’Driscoll kept the momentum and scoreboard growing and moving. Brendan Lehane clipped his third to put Eddie Enright’s side three in front.

On 52 minutes, Sean Desmond tore onto an Ian O’Callaghan delivery. He shook off the challenge of two Carrigaline defenders and shook the net. A Murphy white flag in the ensuing play and the scoreboard had a completely different look about it from just seven minutes earlier. 2-16 to 0-15.

Carrigaline, to their credit, did not let their double dream die easily. Brian Kelleher and Eanna Desmond conjured a four-in-a-row of white flags. The deficit back to three. They almost had their equalising goal

Amid a crowded goalmouth in the third and final minute of injury-time, we could not see who directed the sliotar goalbound. It was Watergrasshill’s Dylan Roche who repelled the shot.

There were 15 seconds of first-half injury-time played when Carrigaline hit the front for the first time in proceedings. A Dylan McCarthy foul on the galloping Ronan Kelleher enabled Brian Kelleher convert his fourth free of the opening half.

The score represented a fourth consecutive Carrigaline minor, following as it did a David Griffin boomer from distance and two from play from the aforementioned Kelleher.

Watergrasshill went the last six minutes of the half without adding to their tally. Indeed, they managed only three scores from the 13th minute to half-time.

Their start, like their fourth quarter, had been so lively and purposeful. Brendan Lehane was first to threaten a green flag. The corner-forward saw his drive blocked. In the third minute, fellow Watergrasshill corner-forward Padraig O'Leary flicked an Adam Murphy sideline cut to the net.

There was still so much road to travel. They got there, eventually. Spectacularly.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); S Desmond (1-1); B Lehane (0-3); P O’Leary (1-0); A Foley (0-1 free), M O’Driscoll, S O’Regan, C O’Leary (0-1).

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Kelleher (0-8, 0-6 frees); D Drake, D Griffin, E Desmond (0-3 each); R McCarthy, R O’Shea (0-1 each).

WATERGRASSHILL: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, D Roche; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Sprigggs, S O’Regan; C O’Leary, S Desmond, L Foley; B Lehane, A Murphy, P O’Leary.

Subs: A Cronin for Foley (44); I O’Callaghan for Field (45-47, temporary); I O’Callaghan for Spriggs (55); P Cronin for O’Leary (58).

CARRIGALINE: R Foster; S Williamson, D King, D Stack; C Barry, D Griffin, C Vaughan; R Kelleher, E Desmond; R McCarthy, D Greene, R O’Shea; B Kelleher, C Kearney, D Drake.

Subs: K O’Reilly for Kearney (24); F O’Connell for Greene (53).