Confined JBFC final: Ballyphehane ready to take the next step

A chance of redemption and a chance to make history. 

Ballyphehane won’t be lacking in motivation when they face Goleen in the McCarthy Insurance Group Confined JBFC final this evening.

A large crowd is expected to flock to Páirc Uí Rinn for the big match that throws in at 6pm. The Ballyphehane players were in tears 12 months ago when they lost the Confined JBFC decider to St Oliver Plunkett’s by a point, a match they probably could and maybe should have won.

They have recovered in style as they chase their first championship trophy at junior B level. The team won the Seandún Division 2 football league title last Sunday so will be on a high coming into this one.

Ballyphehane joint-manager Paul Mullins says his team are looking forward to being back in familiar surroundings but hoping for a better result this time around.

“There’s great excitement around the place,” he says.

"It’s one thing getting to a final but to get there for the second year on the bounce is a credit to the lads. They have put in an unbelievable effort since January. It’s a compliment to their fitness levels as regards where we are now. We are just reaping the hard work that we have all put in over the past six months or so.

“We played Clann na nGael in the semi-final two weeks ago and we were down by three points at half-time and then five or six points but you could see the St Oliver Plunkett’s defeat last year still hurts and it was the lads motivation which helped us come back and win. The hunger is massive.” 

It can be difficult to recover from a final defeat and especially in the manner in which Ballyphehane lost to St Oliver Plunkett’s 12 months ago when the West Cork side got the winning point in pretty much the last kick of the game. Ballyphehane could have easily felt sorry for themselves but they are made of stern stuff.

“When we sat down at the start of this year, we said no matter what happens, we keep the standards high,” Mullins said.

“Once you do that and put in the work, things fall into place. We know the quality is there in our squad. We have brought in a couple of new players this season and also a few minors and they have all freshened up the panel. That has played a huge factor, it’s not the same squad as last year. Competition for places is healthy in any squad.” 

While motivation will be a big factor for Ballyphehane to right the wrongs of 2023, the St Oliver Plunkett’s match hasn’t been mentioned this week in the build up to the final.

“We are on a new journey,” the Ballyphehane joint-manager says.

“You can’t go back and change the past but what you can do is do what you can do in the present time, prepare well for the future. We know what’s ahead of us with Goleen. The curtain is closed now on last year's loss in the final. We have corrected what went wrong last year on and off the pitch.

“I know the lads will use the defeat as motivation, they won’t want to lose again. I don’t feel the need to bring up last year in the run up to this Goleen game. We know Goleen will be coming with all guns blazing, having lost four finals or something like that over the last few years but we just need to focus on ourselves and do what we know we can do. If we can play the way we can play, there’s no reason why we can’t come out of Páirc Uí Rinn with a result.

“What I would say is that we are an upcoming team whereas Goleen are experienced. They have been around a long time with the same group of players. We are in a progression mode but whatever happens, the future is bright for Ballyphehane.” 

The city club have achieved a lot in recent years but one thing that hasn’t been put into the trophy cabinet is a junior B championship trophy. They will be hoping that comes to an end this evening.

“When we sat down a few years ago, our goal was to get Ballyphehane GAA to junior A football. We want to get to levels where we have never been before. There’s no point playing every week and not progressing. 

"It would mean everything if we could get over the line against Goleen. We are trying to build the underage too so success at adult level will only help everyone.” Mullins concluded.