Imokilly manager Denis Ring: 'We’ve no excuses, the Barrs overpowered us' 

An uncharacteristically flat Imokilly? Certainly. But that shouldn’t take away from St Finbarr’s, who from the first whistle hunted, harried and ultimately swallowed the champions whole.

Imokilly manager Denis Ring, unsurprisingly downbeat in defeat, still carried the grace we’ve long come to associate with him.

“The Barrs were the much better team today, they were at it,” Ring said after defeat. “Physically, energy levels were very high from their performance.

“Our energy levels were low and I suppose it is hard for fellas to go out and play two days in a row, and I have nothing but pride in our fellas to be honest. It's a massive commitment.” 

He offered Castlemartyr’s Imokilly hurlers – who were on the field in Glanworth for their relegation playoff 24 hours earlier – as the prime example.

COMMITMENT

“I don't think people fully understand what it takes from players at that level to play on consecutive days. You leave Glanworth yesterday at quarter to six, and you go to refuel with food, and then you go to recovery, pool and sauna, down in Garryvoe or Castlemartyr, you get home at around half nine,” he said. “You try get some rest and sleep, you’re up and at it then the following day.

“Anybody who’s played can only appreciate how draining and how difficult that is. That’s incredible. I couldn’t speak highly enough of our lads and the effort they gave. They came up against a Barrs team today that were at it, very impressive in their movement and athleticism. They’re a powerful team and we were plugging gaps all day.

“It’s disappointing then that we lost Ciaran Joyce early in the game, to lose an All-Star level centre-back, isn’t ideal!” Ring remarked. “Our reserves and resources were limited as well by Cloyne playing later.

“It’s difficult for a divisional team when one of the teams ends up having to play on that same day, I just hope that’s not a precedent going forward. Because divisional teams aren’t able to cope with that.

“It shouldn’t happen. Like Conor Cahill has played in our first two games, Adam Sherlock has played in our first two games, it’s disappointing for them too that they don’t get that opportunity.

“It’s just unfortunate, I’m sorry for them as well as our own perspective.” 

Logistics and scheduling have been a running battle for all divisions in recent years, but Ring pointed to one statistic that underlines the resilience of his Imokilly players, and what they’ve got right despite the challenges.

It’s the first time in four years that Imokilly have been beaten in normal time.

“We were beaten on penalties the first year, extra time the second, we won it last year. So that’s a tribute to the lads in terms of how they’ve been able to cope and deal with situations over the last four years as well,” he added. “The management team have been excellent, the lads have got everything they needed.

“I couldn’t be prouder, and I’d like to wish Dungourney and Cloyne the very best in Premier Intermediate, Aghada in Intermediate A, and St Ita’s and Cobh as they go after Junior A honours.” There was no bitterness, just a recognition that the better team prevailed.

“We’ve no excuses today. The Barrs overpowered us and played really well, and we wish them well to go on and see it through.

“I think, if they play like today, I can’t see anybody beating them this year, to be honest. The trick is to back it up and do it the next day.” The decisive moment arrived just before the interval – Brian Hayes breaking through for the first goal to stretch the Barrs’ lead to five.

“We had done very well in the first half,” Ring said. “I thought we had done well and contained them very well, the goal was a bit of a sucker punch, but even going in five points behind didn’t seem to bad.

“They’re very good at breaking from the back and very good at playing into the breeze. Any time they were breaking they had goal on their mind, there was good support play there, they were aggressive and a danger all day.”