Beara U21 footballers hope to bridge gap of 18 years against Bishopstown

The Beara GAA Division goes in search of their first McCarthy Insurance Group Cork U21 A county football title in 18 years against Bishopstown on Sunday.

Páirc Uí Rinn plays host to an eagerly anticipated U21 A county final showdown between two sides packed with emerging inter-county talent, with a 2.30pm throw-in on Sunday.

Bishopstown qualified for this year’s decider by kicking 0-13 in their quarter-final defeat of Mallow before firing four goals past Ballinora in the penultimate round. As for Beara, hard-fought victories over Bantry Blues (0-15 to 0-6) and Valley Rovers (1-9 to 0-9) propelled the rural division into a first county final since 2006.

Considering Beara has not been able to field a team in the Colleges and Divisional section of the Cork PSFC since 2022, their U21 team qualifying for a county final has taken on extra significance in the football-mad area.

Bishopstown’s semi-final victory over Ballinora took place last weekend. Beara were last in U21 A championship action to a month before. So, any concerns with such a long layoff heading into the county final?

“No because it has given us a chance to hold a good few training sessions and they have gone very well,” Beara U21 Coach David Harrington said.

We have a panel made up of close to 30 lads. So that has allowed us to play close to full game-type scenarios. 

"So we’re actually very happy to have had a bit of a gap. A couple of the lads picked up one or two niggles after the Valley Rovers game as well but they were back to full training sessions last week. So the additional time has actually kind of worked to our advantage really.” 

The month-long gap has also permitted Harrington and his management team an opportunity to size up their county final opponents. Bishopstown’s 4-6 to 2-7 semi-final win over Ballinora impressed David Harrington.

“They had a comprehensive win over a very strong Ballinora team,” Harrington admitted.

“Look, Bishopstown a very good side. They had a few lads playing with the Cork U20s last year. I've also seen some of Bishopstown’s players on the Cork development and minor panels as well.

“If you look down along their sideline, the likes of Brian Cuthbert and Ian Jones, both well-established in Cork GAA circles, are there with them. 

FAITH

"We know Bishopstown has a very good set-up but we have full confidence in our lads. We have strong leaders within our panel and are quite happy with how our preparations have gone heading into Sunday.” 

Harrington hopes, despite the U21A final being played so close to Christmas, that Beara GAA’s clubs and supporters drawn from across the entire peninsula will make the trip up to Páirc Uí Rinn and get behind the team.

“As you know, there is no hurling down in Beara, it is pure footballing country,” David Harrington said.

“Beara hasn’t fielded a senior team in the last couple of seasons which is disappointing because the players are there. This year at club level, you had Urhan, Adrigole and Castletownbere all doing well. They were very unlucky not make county finals in their grades.

“There is football talent and quality players in Beara. This U21 panel, we are hoping will break the line for us. Please God we do, but if we don’t bring home a U21 championship, this group will, over the next couple of years, go on to represent Beara in the Premier Senior football championship. 

We believe we are a strong division and that we can challenge at senior level in the county. 

“So, Sunday’s final is going to attract a big Beara following. You could see that while driving through the parishes over the last few weeks, the Beara flags are out and flying. That’s fantastic for the lads. There should be savage momentum with us on Sunday.

“Hopefully, we will have a big crowd there supporting the lads and, hopefully, we get the right result.”