Féile na n Gael Champions. It has a nice ring to it doesn’t it.

However, the story of this Féile success started the week previous with the qualifying games. Blarney, Bride Rovers, Inniscarra and Valley Rovers were all dispatched on Saturday April 11th. Sunday saw us in the quarter final against Sliabh Rua. We were much too strong for these young boys. Midleton accounted for Bishopstown in the other quarter final but Midleton were no match for The Barrs in the semi-final. Final score Barrs 0:6 Midleton 0:0. The scenes of joy at the final whistle were fantastic. Douglas were to be our opposition in final.

Last Saturday in Ballincollig 24 young boys proudly pulled on the blue jersey of our beloved club. From the throw in at 12.20 p.m. it was evident that they were primed and ready for the biggest game of their young lives . The team fought for every ball as if their lives depended upon it. Such was the determination to win every ball that it seemed at times we outnumbered Douglas. For such young boys the display of commitment, skill and work rate was a joy to witness. They did everything and more that was asked of them by their mentors. They never allowed Douglas to settle and with the aid of a strong wind built up an early lead. Captain Ethan Varian led by example. Young Ethan Twomey and Jack Cahalane, both of whom will be eligible again for Féile next year, made life very difficult for Douglas. Shane Dwane, Sam Cunningham, who was deadly accurate from placed balls, Darragh Callanan & Cathal Crowley showed superb skill. Every boy played with passion and such hunger for success that they were prepared to put their bodies on the line. The half time score of St. Finbarrs’ 1:08 Douglas 0:01 was proof that these young lads meant business.

The wind was against us in the second half, but a master stroke by the mentors, who decided upon a third midfielder, paid off handsomely. The Barrs continued to play intelligent hurling and continued to torment Douglas. Douglas to their credit never gave up, but had no answer to the powerful display of skilled hurling by the resolute Boys in Blue. When Referee Diarmuid Kirwan blew the final whistle joy was unconfined. 21 years is an awful long time to wait to savour Féile success. Tears flowed unashamedly. We might not have been favourites, but don’t ever underestimate the passion the Blue Jersey ignites. The future looks very positive for the club.
Paddy Hayes, Billy O’ Shea, Denis Barry Murphy, Marty Sullivan, John Aherne & Ger Cunningham wrote themselves into the history books of The Barrs’ last Saturday. They are extremely proud of their young charges whom they described as a ”fantastic bunch of players who did everything that was asked of them last Saturday”.

Féile na nGael panel: Scott O Sullivan, Sean Barry Murphy, Shane Dwane, Cathal Crowley, Brian Hayes, Daniel O Sullivan, Michael Aherne, Ethan Twomey, Ethan Varian, Darragh Callanan, Jamie Linehan, Dara O Sullivan, Sam Cunningham, Jake Hourihan, Jack Cahalane, Craig O Donoghue, Matthew Nason, Ryan King, Declan Ward, Matthew Mc Carthy, Rían Doyle, Darragh O Connor, Ben O Gorman, Jack Mc Carthy.
A “Míle Buíochas” to all who travelled to Ballincollig, your support was very much appreciated. Thurles now beckons on June 20th.