Congrats to all the barrs lads.
Lads, surely I'm not the only one who sees something different in this Barrs team. Does anyone else think we're looking at something special here? They just look to be in another league to me. I thought they'd lose today, but only because I didn't think they'd have the mental fortitude to take the pressure and perform. They did, and they did, especially the young lads. They seem to have more hurling, and more physicality than I've seen in a long time. I guess it's too soon to say for sure, but sometimes you just get the feeling that you're watching something magic emerging. We're all happy for them tonight, but we could be shit sick of them sooner than we think!
O'Connor was terrific. Sounds to me like he's going rugbying though. The only thing that might stop him are the horror stories coming out about long term brain damage and how you can't really do much to stop it without changing the game into something else. But when you're young stuff like that never really matters, does it? He has a big hurling career ahead of him if he wants it. He has the chance to be a part of a golden era for Cork and the Barrs. But I'm sure the rugby lads might say similar things. If he goes the professional route, I'll content myself that at least I once saw him and his neighbours and friends hurl their way through a monsoon! Best of luck to him.
These young lads are special alright, they have never left us down since they were young kids, they won some and lost some underage but there’s a belief in them that is incredible. They represent the Barrs jersey the way it should be, pride, passion, skill and confidence oozing from every sinew.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they remind me of the kids of 77 who burst on the scene defeating the all ireland champions of 76 Glen Rovers in the final, they went on to dominate cork hurling from 80-84 only losing one county final in that period.
But a word of caution to us all, that same team lost a semi and a final in 78 & 79 so it may not happen that we dominate from here. And the previous time we won the senior hurling in 93 we were totally dominate at minor and u21 for a 5 year period yet we never won one again for 29 years.
So there will be no getting carried away with one fantastic win cause come 2023 we will have a target on our head in every game we play.
Watching the team parade up Bandon Road last night was so special, the older generation who were part of the 70s and early 80s were crying like school children and the guys who were part of the last success in 93 were utterly relieved that no longer are they the last team to win a senior hurling county
The Barrs are back, but we now have to stay here, no more 29 year waits, that’s the next goal
On the cork panel for next year i would have Ben O Connor, Ben Cunningham and Brian Hayes straight in and I’m hoping Ethan Twomey, who’s already on the panel, will become an integral part of the cork set up next year. And if there are better players than them to play then fair enough, we will be in a great position to have a right cut off the all ireland.