'We're after dragging it back together': John Wigginton-Barrett warns of Barrs improvement

John Wigginton-Barrett.

Ian Maguire and Brian Hayes were the headline names returning to the Barrs line-up for their quarter-final against Carbery two weeks ago. They were not, however, the sole changes to a transformed blue outfit.

Dylan Quinn came in at corner-back for his first championship start since last November’s Munster Club quarter-final against Clonmel Commercials. Further up, John Wigginton-Barrett reclaimed his starting berth after busy bench cameos against Douglas and Mallow.

One of four starters from the opening weekend Carrigaline setback not part of the first 15 for the second round, there’ll be no more bench cameos for 20-year-old Wigginton-Barrett. Not after what his sprightliness conjured up below in Clonakilty. 1-3 from play and the assist for another green flag.

“It was nice to put a few scores over, it's always nice when you come out on the scoresheet,” said Wigginton-Barrett, who was also on the mark in last Sunday’s hurling semi-final win over Kanturk.

The focus is exclusively football this week. The Barrs enter a seventh consecutive county semi-final with form and rhythm belatedly relocated. The spin to West Cork a fortnight ago was restorative in that sense.

“It was nice to see what we can really put out together on the pitch. Hopefully now the next day we can do the same.”

The reminder was timely. Their group campaign had been uncharacteristically patchy. Underperformance and absent personnel were the hurtful main themes. The champions went through on just a solitary victory.

“We needed a bit of a boost after the group games,” he continued.

“We were a bit low after the group campaign. That’s not how we wanted to come out of the group stage. We had a lot of injuries, but we are after getting most of them back. They showed the last day what they can do on the pitch.

“We know what we can do now. We're after dragging it back together. Hopefully we can keep up what we did the last day. Hopefully, we can kick on.

“Brian and Ian coming back in, they're two unbelievable players and unbelievable leaders as well. You saw on the pitch [against Carbery] how big of a difference they make, even with how big they are, catching ball and carrying ball. It just makes a really big difference.

“They're a platform for us and having them back helps us play the way we want to play, and they really encourage everyone on the pitch as well.”

Although only 20, this is Wigginton-Barrett’s fourth season with the Barrs senior footballers. He was a used sub for the 2023 semi-final defeat to Castlehaven. Across ‘24 and ‘25, he's been a permanent fixture for those defining October Sundays.

“It's my fourth year now and they have gone really quickly. First few years we had a few tough losses, but last year’s county final win, I'll remember it forever. They are a great bunch of lads to do it with as well.”

If the recharged blue collective can find a way past Clonakilty on Saturday, the 20-year-old won’t just be in the privileged position of being an hour from back-to-back county football medals, himself, Hayes, Jamie Burns, William Buckley, Ciarán Doolan, and Ricky Barrett will stand on the cusp of a first Barrs double since 1982.