Premier JHC: 'We've built real depth' — Jerome O’Brien hails Barryroe's turnaround

Barryroe captain Jerome O’Brien says last year’s brush with relegation has been the driving force behind their resurgence as they prepare for Saturday’s Co‑Op SuperStores Premier JHC semi-final against St Catherine’s in Ballymah at 4pm.

Last season, Barryroe were staring at the trapdoor after a heavy defeat to Cloughduv in their final group game. The same opposition stood in their way in the quarter-final two weeks ago, but this time O’Brien’s side produced one of their best championship displays in years to turn the tables.

“Last year was just a bad year for us,” O’Brien admits. 

“It’s the same team, the same panel really, and fellas were very disappointed with what happened. 

"Lads put their shoulders to the wheel early in the year. We have new management this year.

“They said everyone was on a level playing field. They used the league to blood lads and see where everyone was at, and that gave every fella the impetus to train hard and put in the effort. 

"We used around 34 fellas during the league. There’s no one on the panel now who can’t come on and do a job.

"Last year we lost our first game to Kilbrittain and straight away you’re under pressure. Getting that first win this year helped drive us on.” 

Barryroe’s age profile has shifted too, with O’Brien now one of the elder statesmen.

“It’s a very young team. There are only three of us over 30. Everyone else is around 23, 24, 25, and then younger lads again at 19 or 20. There’s a nice mix of youth and a small bit of experience. 

"Those 24–25-year-olds have been playing up at this level for seven or eight years because we were struggling for numbers, so they’re experienced now too.” 

O’Brien has seen the full cycle of Barryroe hurling. When he joined the panel in 2010, the club were still riding the momentum of their Junior A county win in 2007 and came within touching distance of reaching an Intermediate final.

“We were going very well. Then a few retired, there was a change of the guard, and when the championship was restructured we were pushed down to Premier Junior. There were lean years, but we stuck with it and the younger lads are driving us on now.” 

That resolve was evident in the quarter-final. Cloughduv raced into a nice lead, and Barryroe needed big saves from goalkeeper Michael Whelton to steady themselves.

“Work rate is massive — the hurling will follow," O'Brien says.

"Cloughduv came back at us two or three times in the second half, but it was a brilliant game to win at the quarter-final stage.” 

Now comes St Catherine’s, one of the grade’s most consistent forces.

“They’ve been a force for the last four or five years. They’ve been in finals and went to Croke Park. Most of those players are still there. 

"They’re an East Cork stronghold — they had a few lads on the Imokilly starting team the other day against St Finbarr's. It’s going to be a difficult assignment.

“If our lads bring the work rate and fight we had against Cloughduv, we’ll put it up to them."