Barryroe 5-28 Kilbrittain 0-01

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Don't mind the scoreline, read on about the match. Look it, there'll be days it rains and it isn't enjoyable to play in, there'll be days you don't win and it's hard to hear the other side cheering at the end. There'll be days you'll see large margins on a scoreboard, if there was a scoreboard, but if you watch a match to try and see the bigger picture, you'll actually see more than just a score too.

People often sum up a match like this in a pub or after the game with a one liner, so imagine 5 goals and 28 points dotted throughout 60 minutes. Grand. No need to mention that again. You can finish there or, we can talk about everything else.

Kilbrittain's Gerry Coughlan swipes the ball away before Barryroe's midfielder can strike. We'll start with our number 1, Éoin Galvin. In goal he pulled off some incredible saves in both halves, with the first three in quick succession, not ten minutes into the match, jumping off his line outstretched to have the sliotair slap hard off his boss. You can call him Kilbrittain's Davy Fitz or Anthony Nash, we call him Gally. Always on his toes he was prepared to move all the time, making himself imposing on the goal line. Reaching high and planting himself low, he also deflected at least 3 goal chances for points or '65s. He made two crazy blocks in the last five minutes of time, rushing out to meet the racing-in full forward, belting back his first shot and then saving the rebound. His display would have won him much credit if we'd recorded his saves for an Instagram reel. With plenty more attacking-defensiveness in him, our Gally was one of the best players on the field. Any goalkeeper would likely be dissapointed himself with the ones he let in without hearing about it from anyone else. On paper you'll see five goals went in, if you were there you'd see another 10-odd goals saved, so before you talk, go watch a game.

Donnacha O'Mahony prepares to send the sliotair up field for Kilbrittain. Moving along. You want to see power? cue Cillian Harrington at left wing back, who gave a tulk of a shoulder to his mark in the half forward line at one stage and he threw him on the flat of his back. Eager, sticky and fast, his mark didn't get much off him throughout, as Harrington raced him down for the ball. He wasn't afraid to get physical either, with an uncanny knack of doing so, in a way that didn't see himself caught by the ref that often, a skill we'd talk about the city lads doing well. Indeed he put his body on the line when he lost his hurley at one point and threw his body heroically at the ball as a Barryroe man struck it, like Wexfords Lee Chin against Dublin in April last year.

Cillian Harrington races away with possession for Kilbrittain. Young Gerry Coughlan, with a freshly shaven head, was ever the force to be reckoned at right wing back. He had come from a soccer match that morning in Imogeely, playing for Kilbrittain Rovers. The match went into extra time, a whole 120 minutes and here he was, after driving back through Lislevane to take on the blues for another 60 minutes without breaking a sweat. We'd expect endurance from our intermediates, heres a man with it in spades, and, he can hurl. There are a few lads we wouldn't want to get a shoulder off of and Gerry's shoulders were flying. Fearless, he broke through Barryroe men like a child might burst through an open straw bale, hurleys and men flying off to the side. Known for his no messing approach to winning a ball, he was hurling in 6th gear albeit with a calmer side than usual - perhaps the soccer had taken the heat out of him. Tee him up with Alan Hayes in midfield and you'd a fine duo of seasoned players who brought a bit of stability to the otherwise young side.

Kilbrittain's Gerry Coughlan drives away from his Barryroe mark.

Kilbrittain's Alan Hayes skillfully handles the ball as he tears through midfield. Aaron Fehilly, his shoulders visibly broadened likely under the watchful eye of S&C coach Mark Eaton in training, put that new muscle into action, also getting physical at left corner back. 'Touch' Fehilly has a knack for surprising onlookers with some beauty's of balls, out of nothing and out of nowhere. He snatched the ball away from his man at one point in the second half and the way he did it brought on an awed gasp from this writer. Ever ready to race after possession, he's another one willing to go down trying which is all important at every level.

Kilbrittain's.Aaron Fehilly sticks to his mark.

Darren Burke, was another who threw himself into the game in the other corner. With quick reflexes and a good first touch he managed to retrieve some neat inbound balls as he covered ground. Despite being harried by the Barryroe forward line, who were quick to fight for the second touch of the ball, the warring for possession left us eager to see what he can bring to the fray in the coming season, as he gets back into motions of regular matches and training.

Kilbrittain's Darren Burke secures possession of the ball in the backline. Give right wing-forward CJ Bryan the ball and he'll put his shoulder to the metal too. This time playing around midfield and the half forward line, our usual cornerback did well to win the ball with a cute eye for robbing it off his mark. We still remember the thunder and lightning Dohenys match of '24 and the then red helmetted CJ's stellar performance, not dimmed today.

Kilbrittain's wing forward CJ Bryan breaks through Barryroes half back line. Add in David Quinlan who used a trademark scoop action to unselfishly pass balls out of danger and you'd a neat pairing around midfield. His height, needed for the dropping ball, saw him ready to break it and take the knocks for those around him. Indeed, he was all in, busying himself around the pairc.

David Quinlan lobs a ball into the half forward line.

Conor 'Doc' O'Donovan and Donnacha O'Mahony made shapes in midfield.  Both Doc and Donn formed a handsome pair of hurlers, doing well to win ball and distribute along the wings. The former scored the pivotal point for Kilbrittain in the middle of the second half, drawing a loud cheer from the supporters in the dugout which included three steadfast Kilbrittain men of the intermediate team that had come from the Cloyne match to offer rousing support for the lads throughout.

Conor 'Doc' O'Donovan holds possession for Kilbrittain as the heavens open in the first half.

Centerback Mikolaj Kaltika had already played that morning in the second half, against Cloyne and by half-time in Barryroe, he sported cuts on the hand and a large knock to the shoulder which he'll feel tomorrow, after he slammed into his man. Indeed when he went down there was an eye around the dugout, which was sans any togged-off subs but sported Hollybough Holland, Bruiser Sexton, Cheese Hunt and the legend that is Ross Cashman, this team's coach and all felt like it could be well in the world if needs must, but Kalitka is as battle hardened as any and picking himself up, with some stretches at the break, he went head-on into the second half with abandon.

Mikolaj Kalitka, centerback for Kilbrittain races away from his Barryroe mark with the ball.

Then, speaking of abandon, you can't leave out full back, Kevin O'Neill. Captain of the Junior B hurlers who won the West Cork Championship in 2024 and brought Kilbrittain to the semi final of the County, this tenacious soldier from Kilbrittain parish's Westside, let fly some hurley slaps racing into the fray to secure possession of the ball. If his man tried him on once in a spate of ground hurling during the match, he'd stay clear the next time.

Kilbrittain's Kevin O'Neill fires the ball out of the back line in the dying minutes of the game. Credit to Barryroe who needed to put up a tough battle to keep left wing-forward Darragh Hayes and full forward Owen 'Mac' MacCarthy contained. Ciarán Byrne at right corner forward was getting stuck in and only for a strong Barryroe defensive line, Kilbrittain could've been in a position to score more.

Darragh Hayes solos the ball in the forward line for Kilbrittain. And that was this match; a bright yet rainy day, a high intensity game, a grand display of ground hurling, broken hurleys flying, shoulders abounding and smacks being had. It never got dirty, each side took what they got and gave it back just as well. While the rain and breeze hampered the play, these displays from the players made it an enjoyable match to watch despite the heavy scoreline. This was also this teams first match of the season and for some, their first without training. There's a lot more possible for this group of men if they can see beyond one scoreline to see what we can see. These lads are playing for the love of the game too and maybe there are more out there who could do the same. This love is something that shouldn't be forgotton but often is at higher grades. Another day out in the black and amber, isn't that all you'd want as a player? Scorers: C.O'Donovan (0-01) Team: Éoin Galvin, Darren Burke, Kevin O'Neill, Aaron Fehilly, Gerry Coughlan, Mikolaj Kalitka, Cillian Harrington, Donnacha O'Mahony, Conor O'Donovan, CJ Bryan, Alan Hayes, Owen McCarthy, Darragh Hayes, Ciarán Byrne and David Quinlan.