Barrs marching on the double just the tonic for iconic former captain Bertie O'Brien 

While his health hasn't been great, O'Brien has made sure to get down to Togher and take in the classes of 2022 as they bid to repeat the heroics of golden ages past

The all-conquering St Finbarr’s team of 1974-75 who beat Fenians of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Club Final. Back: Seamus Looney, Charlie Barrett, Bertie O’Brien, Mick O’Mahony, Mick Archer, Eamon Fitzpatrick, Tony Maher, Donal O’Grady. Front: Sean Canty, Gerald McCarthy, Con Roche, JB Murphy, Jim Power, Charlie MCarthy, Tony Butler, Jerry O’Shea, Seamus Gillen, Christy Myers. Charlie Cullinane, introduced as a sub, was one of several panellists who missed the photo call but not the opportunity to rattle the net ending all hopes of a Fenians comeback in the All-Ireland Club final.

It’s been a challenging year for Bertie O’Brien. The health, as he says himself, hasn’t been great. But no more than his decorated playing days with St Finbarr’s, he’s never been one to shy away from a battle.

When we rang him last Monday afternoon for a chat about the club’s latest double attempt, Bertie politely informed us that he was in hospital. We promptly apologised for having bothered him and were about to leave it at that when he announced down the phone that he’d be only too delighted to talk.