From Kerry's hurling heartland, Kilmoyley seek to break new ground

It's a sign of how far Kilmoyley have got that even their near-neighbours in north Kerry's hurling heartland are wishing them Godspeed.

Due to Covid-restrictions, the club forwent the usual parish gate collection in favour of a GoFundMe drive.

With the All-Ireland drive in full swing, the fundraising effort was a major success and Flor McCarthy says even folk from beyond Kilmoyley's tight borders were throwing a few quid their way.

"There was money coming in from people from abroad with Kilmoyley connections. And people from neighbouring parishes as well, I'd mention Ballyduff and Ardfert. You'd be surprised at some of the names, they'd be diehards with their clubs. That's a good sign that they're wishing us well.

"If there was any Kerry team in the final - if it wasn't ourselves, we'd be wishing them the best of luck.

"It's good for Kerry hurling. It's a good sign of the club championship here as well, that teams are progressing on the big stage as well."

Two days out from an All-Ireland final appearance, the buzz in Kilmoyley is inescapable.

"I don't know where to start with the atmosphere," says McCarthy. "I try to keep off social media a small bit. But I just saw pictures of the school, boys and girls alike, from the ages of 4-12, they're all carrying hurleys to school now.

"The bunting is out around the place, the signage. It's massive. There doesn't go a day here, if you're in the shop, the church or the local pub, without someone talking about hurling. It's like it's bred into us down here. It's either the weather or hurling. That's all that's mentioned."

The Kerry hurling championship, largely built around the eight serious clubs in north Kerry (though a few from elsewhere have begun to gatecrash it), has long been