How Barrs v Castlehaven became the outstanding rivalry in Cork football

Before the 2020 county semi-final, there was no history or narrative between St Finbarr's and Castlehaven. All that has changed.

Thu, 10 Oct, 2024 - 07:10

Eoghan Cormican

The pre-existing relationship was no relationship at all. In the seven seasons prior to 2020, St Finbarr’s and Castlehaven had met just once.

When they lined up opposite each other in what turned out to be Chapter One of a glorious and ongoing rivalry, it had been five years since they’d last crossed paths.

The Barrs’ southside rivalry with Nemo had been reheated by the county final meetings of 2018 and a last-eight clash the following year.

As for the Haven, they were more preoccupied than usual with Carbery Rangers having fallen twice to the neighbours in the three seasons before 2020.

But as for the Barrs and the Haven, there was no recent history or narrative. All that could be said about them ahead of the 2020 county semi-final was that they were two teams chasing the same prize.

Fast forward four years - and four semi-finals - and theirs is now the outstanding rivalry in Cork football.

Theirs is now the most anticipated fixture in Cork football.

Even this year when the Barrs lost their second group outing and looked destined to be on the far side of the knockout draw to Castlehaven, final round results conspired to bring them back together.

“No matter what, we'll end up on the same side,” smiled Barrs midfielder Ian Maguire ahead of Sunday’s fifth consecutive county semi-final clash.

St Finbarr's goalkeeper John Kerins was the hero after he saved a penalty and scored his own penalty kick in the last penalty kick of the shoot-out after extra time against Castlehaven in the 2022 Bon Secours Cork SFC at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: Larry Cummins

“People say there is a rivalry, but for there to be a rivalry, teams have to beat each other. That is ringing through in these circumstances. It is 2-2, both winning once on penalties. It is a fierce rivalry.”

A whole myriad of factors contributed to the enthralling nature of the opening chapter. It being the time of Covid, only a select few were permitted entry into Páirc Uí Rinn on what was a horrible evening. The wind howled and the rain absolutely lashed.

Streaming was still very much a novelty and yet it was this medium that made sure none of the drama was missed. And oh was there drama.

With seven minutes remaining in regulation time, a poke on Steven Sherlock precipitated a shemozzle.

At the end of it, straight red cards were shown to the Barrs’ Eoin McGreevey and Castlehaven’s Roland Whelton.

It was Sherlock that sent the game to extra-time when equalising in the 10th minute of injury-time.

It was Mark Collins that sent Castlehaven into the county final in the first round of sudden death penalties.

If 2020 overflowed with drama, then the following year's chapter combined theatre and quality. It stands comfortably out as the best of the four semi-finals.

Brian Hurley levelled in the sixth minute of second-half injury-time. 3-11 apiece. Sherlock levelled in the third minute of injury-time at the end of extra-time. 3-16 apiece.

The winning penalty on this occasion was dispatched by Barrs goalkeeper John Kerins.

Current Cork senior Cathal Maguire didn’t strike a penalty for Castlehaven in either shootout. Withdrawn before the end of extra-time in 2020, he was overlooked a year later.

“I put my hand up, but we had plenty of willing takers. I took no insult from it,” Maguire recalled this week.

“Our Junior team won a penalty shootout a few weeks back. They went five out of five, and if you told me those five fellas would have scored all five, I’d have probably laughed, while still delighted for them,” Maguire added, emphasising the depth of penalty takers way down west.

Just over two hours before Sunday’s latest instalment, Cathal’s first cousins, the Cahalane sisters, will line out for the Barrs in the Cork camogie final over the road from Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Once the camogie is finished, the family will make the short trip to support Damien, Conor, and Jack lining out for the Haven against the Barrs.

Cathal Maguire, Castlehaven with possession in the 2021 Cork SFC semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

“The Cahalanes playing for both clubs in relation to hurling and football is an added layer to it as well,” Maguire continued.

“Again, there are loads of narratives and there's a great history between the clubs. But ultimately each game seems to be independent to the previous game. When the ball gets thrown in on Sunday, who knows what to expect.

“You know there'll be fire and brimstone. But in fairness to [David] Murnane, he is probably the best in the business in terms of refereeing. He'll probably have his work cut out for him, there's always a fierce intensity.”

Leaving aside 2020 which was weather impacted, the scorelines of the subsequent three semi-finals - 3-11 apiece, 2-17 to 1-16, and 1-16 to 2-11 - speaks to the openness of this annual fixture.

As a forward who moves between the 45 and inside line, Maguire wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It is in both teams’ best interests to go out and play football given the forwards both sides have on show. It would be a shame not to be supplying them with ball. The way it has developed, the Barrs’ strengths have been up front. They’ve racked up massive scores and have an eye for goal, so it plays into their hands to play attacking football.

“We’d view ourselves no differently. We’d hope we'd have the forwards to put up the scores. Even though you know it’ll be one-on-one, one of the Barrs lads usually hits as hard as three other fellas.”

The Haven are bidding to keep their title defence alive, the Barrs are bidding to reclaim top spot both in this relationship and the county.

“If it is 1-0 and 15 men behind the ball, we’ll take that,” Maguire remarked.

Of course he would, but he and everyone else knows that is not how this rivalry works.