Ballyphehane set for Munster quarter-final test after standout Junior B campaign

After a standout 2025 at Junior B level, city division and confined football champions Ballyphehane have one last chapter to write before attention turns to the season ahead.

Their reward is a Munster Junior B Football Championship quarter-final date with Waterford outfit Ballinacourty this Sunday in Knockaderry, Limerick (2pm). Victory on January 25 would set up a semi-final meeting with Limerick side Knockainey on February 15.

It is a competition with its own character – and history – having been run by Knockaderry since 2006. For clubs operating outside below the traditional championship pathways, it’s an opportunity for clubs and players to compete in a provincial championship.

For Ballyphehane manager Colm Barry, that alone makes it an opportunity worth savouring, particularly with the club preparing to step up to Junior A this year.

“I think it's fantastic,” he begins. “Huge credit first of all to Knockaderry GAA, because they run it every year and they host it and it's a great opportunity to go and represent Cork and take on teams that you would never have played before.

“You wouldn't have that opportunity to do so and I suppose if you look at it this year as well, it would be great to be able to compete,” he explains. “The other Cork clubs have shown how difficult it is to compete at Munster level and even though it is Junior B, we're delighted to be taking part in it, so it's an adventure for us really and we're looking forward to it.” 

Confidence is hardly in short supply. Three pieces of silverware were secured by the city club last season, under the guidance of Barry, while Owen Sweeney, Dean Mullins, Danny Kiely, Eoghan Walsh and Craig Twohig make up the rest of the backroom.

“We won the Confined Junior B Football Championship in July and we went on to win the McSweeney Cup then a week later. Then we went on and won the Seandun City Division and we got to the county final.

LEARNINGS

“Now, we were beaten on the day in Pairc Uí Rinn by Carrigaline. They were just very well organised and they had their homework done on us and they fully deserved a victory on the day,” Barry remarks. “But you could see there, like how difficult it is to win those titles when you're up against senior clubs because I suppose of the pick they have.

“It is always a challenge, but to have the confined championship, it's great for the so-called smaller clubs. It just levels the playing field I suppose really.” 

Munster, though, represents a different examination again.

Ballinacourty will not be fielding their first team, unlike Ballyphehane. The Waterford club compete at senior level.

The Junior B provincial landscape – like so many of Munster’s football competitions across every grade – is one dominated by Kerry outfits.

“I was looking at it, the past 17 finals, I think the Kerry side have won it 13 times,” Barry explains. “So that tells you that it's going to be a big challenge.

“We’re really looking forward to it and I suppose look we had a great year last year, and it finished on a disappointing note for us to lose the Junior B County final but we learned a lot from that experience.

“We’d hope to kind of tweak a few bits and pieces from that game, there were learnings in it for us. But we’ve had some great days out, we got to four finals and won three trophies.

“And the community, they really got behind us. They came out in droves to support us in all the games and even when things weren't going so well.

“It's another day out for them and hopefully that hopefully it can be more than one day out – if we can progress it will be fantastic but I'm sure Ballinacourty are thinking the same, so it'll be a tough challenge.”