'Billy Twomey was looking down on us' as Ballyphehane footballers make history 

There were emotional scenes and understandably so in Mallow on Sunday evening as Ballyphehane made it third time lucky.

The city club lost the last two Confined Junior B Football Championship deciders, they weren’t going to make it an unwanted three losses on the trot. 

Given the difficult wind conditions, it was a day where it was easier to go for goals, it turned out to be the case with Ballyphehane winning 9-6 to 3-7 against Araglen. A first championship title at this grade for Ballyphehane.

“This means an awful lot,” Ballyphehane manager Colm Barry said post-match.

“The players have come up agonisingly short in the last two years, so just to get over the line today, it's a relief really more than anything. But as you can see here, it’s an outpouring of emotion. It's just brilliant altogether. 

"We knew there were goals in the side and we knew we had dangerous forwards. We scored nine goals, it’s a fantastic victory.

“Araglen in fairness to them, they never threw in the towel. I’m sure they’ll be back. But look, I’m just delighted for my players. It has been a tough couple of years trying to get over the line but they’ve finally got there. 

"Playing in the Junior A League really stood to us this year. We went up to get more competitive games and we have been getting four or five goals regularly in games." 

The Ballyphehane parish will be the place to be for a good few days and in particular Noel Murphy's Pub, with the club continuing their upward trajectory. Three years ago, they won the Confined JCFC title, with that final also played in Mallow.

“I only took over the team for the first time this year. I’m not from the area, but you can see what it means to the people of Ballyphehane,” Barry says.

“For a Junior B final, there was a massive crowd here. Everyone from Ballyphehane was here and I also saw a good few neutrals. We are going to celebrate this. We actually have a semi-final of the MacSwiney Cup on Thursday. We have to break that to the lads at some stage.” 

Timmy Walsh is a person who eats, sleeps and drinks Ballyphehane. The chairperson of the club was a proud man after the game.

“Well, with all the disappointment of the last few years, it’s a fantastic achievement. We also had sadness recently with the passing of a true Ballyphehane legend. I have no doubt that Billy Twomey was looking down on us today.

“There has been a huge effort put in by the team since last November. Going forward now, we hope that we will continue to push on. The sky is the limit for the club. People don’t see what goes on behind the scenes, but look, it all came to fruition today.

“The key message is never give up and don’t ever forget where you came from. This means everything.” Walsh stated.