Historic Munster final ahead as Ballyphehane look to create more history

Ballyphehane will look to add a significant title to their ever-growing trophy cabinet this weekend as they chase provincial glory.

The city side face Cromane of Kerry in the Munster Junior B Football Championship final on Sunday in Knockaderry with throw-in at 2pm.

These are special times for Ballyphehane in what has been a glorious few years as they continue to improve, but to win a first Munster crown would be the stuff of dreams for them.

They are guided by manager Colm Barry, who is in his first season at the helm.

“You have to pinch yourself to believe that we are actually in the Munster final,” he says.

“When I took on this job, I knew we would have a strong chance of winning the confined championship. The lads were determined to put that right. 

"That was the ultimate aim, then to go on and win the Seandún championship as well as the Terence MacSwiney Cup, they were huge bonuses that we didn’t expect, but momentum built with us.

“We got a good lesson there before Christmas off Carrigaline’s third team in the county final, but we took learnings from it and I think we have used those learnings. We’ve brought them into our two games in the Munster campaign so far against Ballinacourty and against Knockainey. We’re going well at the moment, but we know we’ve a massive, massive hurdle yet to overcome.” 

Ballyphehane are used to playing in finals having been in so many in recent years, but this one feels different. The buzz around the parish is palpable and the supporters are right behind the team. Three buses full of fans will make their way up to Limerick on Sunday along with many more who will travel by car.

“We know what it feels like to be on both sides of it when it comes to finals, so the players will be determined because they don’t want to have that losing feeling again,” the Ballyphehane boss said.

“In saying that, it’s very difficult to win Munster no matter what the grade is, you look at St Finbarr’s, Aghabullogue and Buttevant last year. We know only too well that winning a final is the only option, really.

“It’s all we want out of it on Sunday. The defensive efforts have been huge. We only conceded six points in each of the two previous games in Munster. Our tackling has been good. They’re all positives going into a final.

“We aren’t overly worried about the opposition in the sense that you can only look after your own house. That’s all. And especially the last couple of games, we’ve never seen these teams play before. 

"We’ve never played against them before. It suits us in a way as well, when you can just focus on your own house and go up there and give it your best shot. That’s all you can ask for.

“It would be great for Ballyphehane to win a Munster title most notably for our supporters. Even when we lost the county final before Christmas, they have kept supporting us since then. They saw that we were still making the effort and they kept with us.

“We’ve given them some good days out and hopefully we can give them another one on Sunday.”