In school of ‘Rock, you gotta beware of the Blues

The current Blackrock tally of 33 titles would be considerably greater were it not for St Finbarr’s, the 25-time county champions.

RIVALRY: Shane O'Keeffe, Blackrock, Glenn O'Connor and Damien Cahalane, St. Finbarr's.

More than three decades later, the messages that were relayed to us as young Blackrock hurlers remain embedded in my mind.

Keeping two hands on the hurley and two eyes on the sliotar were the basics. Mastering the art of ground hurling was another important fundamental. Hooking and blocking vital too. But an essential requirement for anyone who wanted to excel with the club was a hatred of a thing known as the Barrs.