The Gaeltacht club had moved six ahead at one stage, but that was overturned by Bantry - last season’s defeated finalists - who forged three points clear with six minutes remaining.

Cill na Martra finished strong with Shane Ó Dunnnín the super-sub.

“We kept our nerve and we talked about this an awful lot because Cill na Martra got the name of being bottlers. Being unable to succeed. Unable to achieve.

“They had lost several county semi-finals by a point. It was time to turn the tide. I think that stayed with them. The fight was brilliant.

“Any time you show that bit of steel to finish going down the straight, that is what you are about. But, look, it could easily have gone to Bantry as well.

"I’d have taken a draw. But I knew there was a kick in our lads. We have brilliant forwards.” 

Cill na Martra took a four point lead to the dressing-room, but required an extra gear when Bantry Blues came back at them.

“We took a stranglehold of the game in the first-half. By God, did Bantry take a stranglehold in the second-half. They gave a superb display of fighting back, going ahead and staying ahead.

“There is no question about it, the game was slipping away from us. The boys were tired, really tired. The man-of-the-match for Bantry Kevin Casey, he was tiring and they had to take him off in the finish.

“We brought in a few subs that freshened it up. Put legs underneath us. Things were not going our way and actually it was a brilliant, brilliant turnover by Colm McLoughlin with about a minute to go, and it was masterful. We went up the field and got a point out of it and it gave us an impetus that wasn’t there before it.” 

One of the subs they brought in Shane Ó Duinnín, was introduced with 12 minutes of regulation remaining. He finished with three marvellous points, including the all-important winning flag.

“Shane should be starting in the team. I know I am an old guy, and I am at it for a long, long time - 40 years. You have to finish strong.

"In Mike Desmond, Shane and Dáire MacLochlainn, they certainly know how to finish a game. They are wonderful finishers. Mike Desmond was unlucky not to get a goal.” 

The Kerry native has seen and done it all with various clubs and counties. So, what brought him to Cill Na Martra?

“I had county seniors, minors, junior, novice - whatever you call it - but I never had intermediate because it is so difficult to win. Here in Cork it is the most difficult ever.”