Beara return to county championship action with a point to prove: 'The lads want to play senior football'

Beara will make their long-awaited return to the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC this evening when they face Avondhu in the second round of the unseeded divisions/colleges section.

The game, which throws-in at 8pm in Ovens, marks the division’s first appearance in the competition since 2022. 

For a region steeped in football tradition, simply being back on the field represents a significant moment, and there is a clear sense of anticipation around the peninsula as Beara prepare to re-enter the championship later today.

Avondhu, who defeated Seandún in last Tuesday’s opening round, arrive with the advantage of having a competitive outing already behind them. 

Beara, by contrast, are under new management and still finding their feet under boss Peter O’Leary. The Castletownbere native has stepped into the role for this year.

O’Leary acknowledges that the division’s absence from the championship in recent seasons has been a source of frustration, but he believes the tide has finally begun to turn.

“It has been disappointing the last few years that Beara haven’t been able to field,” he says.

“Clubs are playing more league games now, lads are training two or three times a week, and they have other commitments. It’s harder than it was 10 or 20 years ago.

“But the new Beara committee did a lot of groundwork, and once we saw the uptake, it was great. The lads have been brilliant and are travelling from all over to train.

“There’s great backing. The lads are enjoying it, there’s good banter, and we want to keep it enjoyable. They’re under enough pressure with their clubs, where many of them are key players.

“I suppose other divisions are different, maybe, where there are senior clubs scattered around. That’s not the case in Beara, so it just makes it more difficult — but lads are keen to play.

“There’s no pressure being put on the players. We just want them to go out and express themselves. When you’re standing in the dressing room talking to them you do feel a bit old, but they are a great bunch.” 

A major factor in this year’s revival, O’Leary feels, is the timing of the competition. With clubs still only a few rounds into their league campaigns and months away from championship, players have more flexibility to commit to the divisional side.

“If this was later in the year, it would be harder to get players,” he said.

“But lads want to play senior football. For most of them, this is their only avenue to do that, because we don’t have a senior club in Beara. They’re very young, but that’s no harm — there’s no baggage and no pressure.

“The goal this year is simply to field, be competitive, and lay a foundation. Next year, lads will have experience and hopefully there’ll be no issue fielding again.” 

Looking ahead to the challenge posed by Avondhu, O’Leary expects a stern test. It is, at the end of the day, do or die — like the old days, with the winners progressing to play Imokilly and no back door for the losers.

“Avondhu have a lot of good footballers and they’ve improved a lot. But we wouldn't swap our lads for anyone. We’re limited in numbers, but they’re keen and committed.

“The more divisional sides involved, the better. It’s great to have knockout football back — if you lose, you’re gone. A lot of our lads have never played an adult knockout game, so they’re looking forward to it.

“I just think it’s going to be great. The group games are fantastic, but if you lose one you’re still in the championship. If you lose this, you’re done, and I think that adds a bit to it as well. We’re going to give it a rattle.”