THE hurling championship may be over in Kerry, but an Abbeydorney native will still be fighting for county honours this weekend.

Former Kerry star, Darragh O’Connell, who transferred from Abbeydorney to Cuala at the beginning of the year will be aiming to win a first county title in 21 years for his adopted club who face St Judes in Parnell Park this Saturday.

In the time since the move, O’Connell, has worn the sky-blue of Dublin in the All-Ireland championship alongside accomplished new clubmates Mark and Paul Schutte.

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Cuala GLC, are based in the seaside village of Dalkey in south county Dublin.

A former student of Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, the talented forward and sometimes midfielder, was a Kerry senior hurler between 2010 and 2014, picking up a Christy Ring title (2011) and Division 2A honours (2014) along the way.

Speaking in the Evening Herald this week, O’Connell, mentioned the importance of hurling in the community where he grew up. “There’s a great tradition of hurling in North Kerry. People love their hurling in that locality,” he said.

“I was raised in a hurling environment. You grow up with a hurley. And to wear the club jersey is a huge thing in Kerry. It can be difficult for hurling when football is so strong in the county, but there are little pockets of Kerry where hurling is flourishing,” said O’Connell.

2015 was a year of big steps for Kerry hurling, promotion to both Division 1 and Liam McCarthy represents a giant leap forward in the standard the hurlers will be expecting to compete at.

With the likes of Clare and Limerick just around the corner, new manager, Ciaran Carey, could do with the services of the Abbeydorney man. But for now at least, it’s a case of Kerry’s loss is Dublin and Cuala’s gain.

You can read the full Evening Herald article HERE