Carrigaline's Cian Barry ready to play the occasion as well as the game

The countdown is on to Sunday’s Cork senior A football championship final against Knocknagree

Wed, 23 Oct, 2024 - 11:26

Therese O’Callaghan

Cian Barry is still going strong. Not just in football, in hurling as well (more about that later).

It's a wonderful time of the year to be involved.

With the countdown to Sunday’s Cork senior A football championship final against Knocknagree gaining pace, the steadfastly loyal Carrigaline player takes us back to where it all began.

Mind you, it wasn't easy at times.

“My first year was 2008. I broke into the team in 2010, more bad than good in 14 years. I suppose 2014 and 2015 were the only years we were competitive, and this year again.

“We went up senior in 2016 after we won the county. We had the likes of Nicholas and Peter Murphy, Barry O’Keeffe and Killian Forbes. They stayed on one more year, and they all went around the same time after. We had a very young team and they were trying to learn against the best teams in Cork when they probably weren’t ready for it.

“There were nine years there where it was just trying to keep the head above water. Some heavy defeats. You’re coming out every year and your goal is to try and win one game to try and stay up. That is hard on the head as much as anything else. You’re trying to motivate yourself for 10 or 11 months just to win one match. That can be hard on fellas.”

Watch: Knocknagree's Daniel O'Mahony expecting tough challenge against Carrigaline

Those barren years were followed by more heartbreak last October when they were relegated from the top table following a replay with Mallow.

“We felt we threw it away the first day,” Cian continued. “The second day we were never really at the races. A lot of disappointment and a bit of anger as well we didn’t show up.

“But it disappeared quick enough because we were happy with our year. It was the first year we didn’t get hammered in any game. We probably should have beaten Éire Óg. We were with Nemo with 15 minutes to go. Ballincollig, there was only a goal in it with three minutes left. We were competitive the whole year.

“We refocused fairly quickly. We said we are down senior A now, it is a good grade for us. We’d be starting off the year aiming at winning a county as opposed to winning a match. We got over it quick enough.”

They showed their intention by claiming a Division 1 league title against Nemo Rangers in July in their first year in the higher grade and they would go on to top their group in championship.

“Out of all the games I played over the years, the Nemo league final felt in complete control and everything went right for us that night.

“Then it came to championship, no county is really won in a straight line, it goes up and down. The Ballingeary game went really well. Kiskeam have different tactics, very defensive. Cill na Martra probably coming up with the other strong team in the group, four or five points down at half-time, it really stood to us going forward.

“Bishopstown in the quarter-final, we were in control for most of that game, but we got out of there, just about.

“Kanturk, we just couldn’t get past the two-point mark. They’ve won so many counties over the years, they’re well used to those types of battles. To come away with penalties, it might be the only time you ever do it. The buzz off of it was unbelievable.”

A positive season so far. But the clock is ticking.

“This year we’ve a very good mix. There are a lot of young players, middle-aged players and a few experienced as well.

“A few of us are in our 30s - myself, Niall Coakley, Seán Mellett, Brian O’Driscoll in his first year with us, Kevin Kavanagh and Ian Sheerin who transferred from Wicklow a few years ago, he would be 38 I think, the oldest.

“There are probably not too many years left where we are going to have a chance to win it. I try to say that to the young lads when we won in 2015 these days are easy. But they definitely don’t come round too often.

“Enjoy those moments. Enjoy the bunting and the flags. Sometimes people get bogged down and say we have to focus on the game. I tell everyone to enjoy the experience. We have an open training session Thursday night with the underage. It’s nine years since my last final, it could be my last one. Enjoy every bit of it.”

There is one other big day to look forward to in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. On Sunday week they will go to battle with either Mallow or Watergrasshill in the Premier IHC showdown.

“We’ve had six players starting on both teams: myself, Kevin Kavanagh who unfortunately is injured now, Éanna Desmond, David Griffin, Kevin O’Reilly and Darragh King. Nathan O’Keeffe and Pa Mellett are subs. So eight across the panels are dual.”