‘I couldn't score any point for them, I'm having my hips replaced soon!'

Castletown through to county junior final

CASTLETOWNBERE’S second team will look to create history for the club, having reached the county JBFC final for the first time.

A three-point victory over St Vincent’s in Inchigeela propelled them into the decider. Guiding the side is Mike Murphy, who combined duties with the club’s minor and U16 teams and being juvenile club chairman as well as taking the Beara minor side. He did, however, stop short of togging out himself.

‘I said to the lads that I couldn’t score any point for them, I’m having my hips replaced soon!’ he laughs.

‘Even if the ref were to give out, I couldn’t take over as I can’t run. I’m delighted for the lads though, it has been a hugely enjoyable year with no hassles – or no parents asking why their fella isn’t playing!’

Having already beaten Newmarket, Castletown set up a final meeting with Russell Rovers – the date dependent on whether or not the East Cork side win their JAHC semi-final against Kilbree this weekend – as they triumphed by 0-13 to 0-10 against Vincent’s.

In a close game, the Beara side led by two points at half-time but their opponents levelled early in the second half and it was tit-for-tat until three late points decided the outcome. Dean Murphy finished with four points while Donagh Bán O’Sullivan, Liam Hanley, Adam Hurley and Jason Walsh each scored twice with Gary Hurley getting the other point.

Mike Murphy believes that the diverse mix of players has helped to engender a strong team spirit.

‘Noel Harrington kicked a point against Bere Island, he’s the oldest and then we’ve five minors,’ he says.

‘We were bringing them into the team as they came up to the age and then there were lads who came to me at the start of the year and said that they couldn’t give the full commitment to intermediate this year and would prefer to play junior B.

‘Being in the Carbery-Beara league definitely helped us but there were nights we had no subs and we went down to play Randal Óg with only 13. They had 17 so they gave us two and the lads had mighty craic.

‘It has been really enjoyable and it’s a great reward to get to the final.’

Having been involved without a break for ten years, Murphy has promised himself time out in 2019, though not even the final will signal a stoppage.

‘We must play Garnish in the Donie Harrington Cup and then the minors have Beara championship and a West Cork league final against St Colum’s.

‘There’s a bit to go always.’