Bainisteoir Derek’s team swings a win

CORK crooner Derek Burke and his Co Kerry football team swung into top gear to clinch the coveted title in this year’s Celebrity Bainisteoir by a slender one-point win.

Burke, of Crystal Swing fame, and Kerry’s Castleisland Desmonds edged out Ballymun Kickhams managed by Máiréad Farrell of Today FM in a thrilling decider in Parnell Park.

The final was aired last night.

The rock ‘n’ roller expressed delight at the win – and his success at coaching the Kerry lads on the hit TV show, despite being from rival Co Cork.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that we won. The team put so much work into this game and I’m so proud of each and everyone one of them,” he said.

“I’d also like to commend Máiréad and the Ballymun Kickhams team who played a great game.”

Thousands of fans attended the game to cheer on both teams in Parnell Park in what was the most exciting game in the history of the show.

It looked like Ballymun Kickhams would be the first Dublin team to win the contest, but, in the last minutes of the game the Castleisland Desmonds scored two points, giving them the lead they needed to win the game. The final score was 1-08 to the Castleisland Desmonds to 1-07 to Ballymun Kickhams.

Both Bainisteoirí had been mentored by GAA legends. Former Dublin football star Ciaran Whelan was mentoring Máiréad Farrell and her Ballymun team while Kerryman Liam Kearns mentored Derek and his Castleisland team. Both the bainisteoirí and the mentors had been pushing their teams to their limits in the run up to the big game.

The final marked the end of the third series of RTÉ’s successful Celebrity Bainisteoir series.

Previous winners were Derek Davis and Marty Whelan.

This series featured eight Irish celebrities who each had to manage an intermediate GAA club football team.

They were: Ballymun Kickhams GFC, Dublin (Máiréad Farrell), Fermoy GFC, Cork, (Peter Kelly aka Franc), Roche Emmets GFC, Louth, (Gavin Duffy), Kilconly GFC, Galway, (Breffny Morgan), Irvinestown GFC, Fermanagh, (Andrew Maxwell), Nobber GFC, Meath, (Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh), Shannonbridge GFC, Offaly, (Nuala Carey), Castleisland Desmonds, Castleisland, Kerry, (Derek Burke).