By DARREN KELLY

TYNAGH-Abbey-Duniry’s road to redemption reaches its final stop on Sunday (Croke Park, 2.30pm) when they face Cork’s Watergrasshill in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate hurling final.

A club with such a proud tradition since the foundations of the GAA, it’s an occasion beyond the wildest dreams for three parishes that came together in 2004 to arrest a decline in population and maintain their influence in Galway hurling.

Of course, their history goes so much further back. Tynagh won five county senior titles in the 1920s and included multiple Galway All-Ireland winners from 1923. Duniry’s Mick Kenny captained that side while in later years, Abbey-Duniry were senior finalists in 1998 and 1999.

On occasions, they’ve regrouped in the intermediate ranks. Tynagh claimed the Mick Sylver Cup in 1987, Abbey-Duniry two years later. And together they crossed the line in 2009 and last November.

There was no national series before 15 years ago where Antrim’s St. Gall’s stopped them in the semi-final. But after overcoming Wexford’s Rathnure St. Anne’s before Christmas, the club descends on GAA headquarters for the very first time.

And in representing Galway, they’ll look to bring this All-Ireland crown back west for the first time since Oranmore-Maree beat Cork’s Charleville seven years ago. That was a first success for the county in seven attempts.

Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry’s recent record was also a tale of sorrow since senior knockout appearances between 2016 and 2019 (which included a 2018 quarter-final defeat to then champions Liam Mellows).

They dropped to Senior B in 2020, survived a relegation decider 12 months later, before the trapdoor finally caught them in 2022.

The east Galway club were at a crossroads but remained united. Former Galway coach and Dublin manager Mattie Kenny returned home and was joined by former Galway captain Liam Hodgins. Tom Breheny helped the under-20s achieve county glory the following year.

That was the season their flagship team were meant to storm back but the Galway intermediate hurling championship is a minefield  Ballinderreen hit hard and early in the 2023 final forcing Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry to pick up the pieces again.

However, their resolve remained firm and after overcoming Kilbeacanty, Abbeyknockmoy, Clarinbridge, Rahoon-Newcastle and Carnmore, a 2-16 to 0-17 victory over Kinvara finally delivered a return to senior hurling.

But further opportunities couldn’t be ignored. They held their nerve against five-in-a-row chasing Tooreen from Mayo in the Connacht decider to win 0-19 to 1-14.

And while the refereeing of their All-Ireland semi-final against Rathnure threw out both team’s game plans, they took advantage of two sending offs for their opponents to win 2-19 to 2-11 even if Thomas Murphy’s afternoon also ended with a very harsh red card.

As of going to print, Murphy’s subsequent suspension hasn’t been overturned and it will be a cruel blow if he misses the club’s greatest day. Conor Jordan, joint captain Johnny Conroy and Padraig Breheny (man of the match in their last two outings) will lead the attack.

Niall Moloney, John Dervan and Ben Moran should operate outside them while former Galway seniors Shane Moloney and Paul Killeen are a formidable midfield duo. Killeen and Breheny (another former Galway player) got the goals against Rathnure.

While Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry conceded two goals in that All-Ireland semi-final, they only dropped two more green flags in their previous seven outings. Keeper Brendan Lynch has had five clean sheets.

The back six have shown versatility, comfortably switching positions when required. John Whelan, county final man of the match Micheál Power, Garry McHugo, Shane Fitzpatrick, Kevin Moloney and David Jordan should get the nod.

Shane Farrell will play some role from the bench while Padraig Robinson, Patrick McHugo and Murphy (hopefully) could be involved.

With no major injury concerns, Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry will relish the chance to carve their name in history but Watergrasshill provide an obstacle like none they’ve faced this term.

Four of their team started Imokilly’s successful Cork senior winning final against a Sarsfields side preparing for their All-Ireland Final against Dublin’s Na Fianna next week.

Forwards Adam Murphy (1-47 in their last five games) and captain Sean Desmond (3-9) are dangerous attackers along with defenders Kevin O’Neill and Cork senior panellist Daire O’Leary.

Managed by former Tipperary hurler Eddie Enright, they were 10 down to Carrigaline in the opening round back in August before coming back. They accounted for Castlemartyr, Valley Rovers and Mallow before beating Carrigaline again (2-16 to 0-19) to win a first premier intermediate crown.

Their form got better as they overcame a Dylan Roche red card and a goal conceded after just 10 seconds to beat Clare’s Wolfe Tones (2-20 to 2-13) in the Munster semi-final.

And then they accounted for Tipperary’s Cashel King Cormacs (who battled Kiltormer in an epic trilogy in 1992) 1-21 to 0-14 in the decider.

Thanks to Desmond’s goal and 0-11 between Adam Murphy and Brendan Lehane, they were ruthless against Antrim’s Carey Faughs (1-21 to 0-8) four weeks ago.

Aiden Foley is an ever present between the sticks; Dylan McCarthy and two time All-Ireland winning under-20 Daire O’Leary fill the central defensive positions; flanked by Shane Field, Roche, Aaron Spriggs and O’Neill.

Anthony Cronin and Ian O’Callaghan are their midfield partnership; while Adam Murphy and Desmond will be helped by Shane O’Regan, Ciarán and Padraig O’Leary and Lehane.

Michael O’Driscoll, Liam Foley, Patrick Cronin, Chris Healy and James McCarthy are examples of the options available to Enright.

The firepower shared between both squads is evident with 30 goals between them this season. Mattie Kenny will give serious thought to match ups with Murphy and Desmond requiring attention.

Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry can pressurise their opponents’ rearguard, especially if Shane Moloney and Killeen win the midfield showdown.

Jordan will complement Breheny’s ‘target man’ role while the work rate of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s other forwards can negate any opposing half back threats.

Watergrasshill will start as favourites but Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry will enjoy being underdogs. After years of suffering, they’ve remained determined to achieve their goals. And they’ll leave everything on the field in pursuit of a perfect ending to a memorable championship run.

Pictured: Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry Micheál Power on the ball against Luca Danjo of Kinvara in the County Intermediate Hurling Final. The Galway champions face Watergrasshill of Cork in Sunday’s All-Ireland Final at Croke Park.