Glengarriff 1-9

Garnish 1-8

GLENGARRIFF’S victory in the Beara Junior B Football final can act as a stepping stone to even greater success, insists manager Sean Hurley.

‘I might be a bit naïve, but I think there is more in these lads,’ Hurley said after watching his side reclaim the Beara title following their replay triumph over Garnish in Castletownbere.

Man-of-the-match Callum McElhinney – brother of Irish middle-distance athlete Darragh McElhinney – converted the decisive free late in the game as Glengarriff captured their first Beara Junior B crown since 2020 and their eighth overall, cementing their status as the most successful club in this competition.

‘If you’re playing football in October, that’s a sign of a successful year. Hopefully we’ll be playing into November,’ Hurley added, as Glengarriff now venture into the county Junior B championship – though the manager’s focus is firmly on the long-term project.

‘This is a box ticked for our development. The hope is they’ll keep improving so we can push forward again in 2026.

‘This final was a stepping stone to what’s to come – it was like doing your Leaving Cert; we needed to pass this test to move on to bigger ones.’

Garnish's Sean Terry O'Sullivan gets ahead of Glengarriff's Paul O'Sullivan.

Like the drawn final a few weeks earlier, which finished 0-11 apiece, the replay was another tense and tactical encounter.

The teams shared the opening six points – Gearóid O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan and Ciarán McElhinney scoring for the champions-elect, while Sean Terry O’Sullivan (2) and Brian Terry O’Sullivan replied for Garnish.

Points from Gavin O’Sullivan and Callum McElhinney nudged Glengarriff two clear before Garnish hit back. Sean Terry added another free and then Danny Harrington struck for a 23rd-minute goal to edge Garnish in front, 1-4 to 0-5.

But Glengarriff responded in kind, with Darragh O’Connell O’Sullivan finding the net to restore their advantage. Garnish came again, Brian Terry O’Sullivan kicking two fine points, though there was time for Glengarriff to level before the break, 1-6 apiece. So, so tight.

‘We had a good window with the weather for about an hour and a half, but the horrible wind made it very hard to score on the town side,’ Hurley explained.

‘We got our goal scoring into the town goal, but both sides found it difficult – that wind was very tricky.’

Glengarriff celebrate their win in the Beara junior B football final replay.

The Glengarriff boss was also full of praise for his defensive unit.

‘Our backs were outstanding. We put in a defensive system early in the year when we were leaking goals, and it’s working for us. The backs won the game for us, and our forwards got the scores that got us over the line.’

Hurley added: ‘The official man of the match was Callum McElhinney, who was very influential for us, but I have to say that the outstanding player on the pitch was Brian Terry O’Sullivan – we lost midfield all day but still won the game. He’s a serious player.’

Scoring chances were scarce in the second half, but the tension ramped up. Two more points from McElhinney put Glengarriff two clear before Garnish again found a response through two Sean Terry O’Sullivan frees. All square at 1-8 each, with just five minutes remaining.

The next score would prove decisive – and it fell to Callum McElhinney, whose late, nerveless free sealed Glengarriff’s dramatic one-point win.

Stephen O'Sullivan and Gavin O'Sullivan celebrate the win.

‘Winning the title is a big reward,’ Hurley said, reflecting on the club’s rebuild that saw him return as manager last year with Glengarriff struggling.

‘I’m not sure if we won a game in 2023. The new management came in for 2024. We had the bones of a squad, and we built from there.

‘Now we have the basis of a nice team – young lads blended with a few experienced fellas like Paul O’Sullivan and Denis McCarthy. They’ve put in a massive effort, and this is a reward for that.’

The win clearly meant everything to the local community.

‘It means so much to everyone – I’d say nearly every person in Glengarriff was at the game. We don’t have a massive population, but what we do have is great support. Glengarriff was buzzing on Saturday night; it’s a great feeling to bring a cup home. It’s an achievement and recognition for their hard work,’ Hurley said proudly.

Glengarriff panel: Finbarr McCarthy, Paul O'Sullivan, Alan Dunne, Thomas O'Sullivan, Gavin O'Sullivan, Seán Power, Ciarán McElhinney, Philip Harrington, Darren Harrington, Callum McElhinney, Brian O'Connell O'Sullivan, Darragh O'Connell O'Sullivan, Gearóid O'Sullivan, Tadhg McCarthy, Stephen O'Sullivan, Denis McCarthy, Pádraig Harrington, Aidan Healy, Diarmuid Collins, Aaron Hanley, Eamonn O'Sullivan, Shane Healy, Shaun O'Sullivan.