Barna/Furbo junior hurlers finish B final replay in a blaze of glory

Barna/Furbo 0-15Ballinderreen 1-6

Alan Dooley

A TRULY dominant second half display from the hurlers of Barna/Furbo propelled them to well deserved glory on Saturday afternoon as they claimed the Gullane’s Hotel Junior B Championship after overwhelming Ballinderreen in Carnmore.

Having left the first game behind them somewhat after dominating for large spells, the concession of a freakish early goal triggered thoughts that Barna/Furbo’s quest for an historic first Junior B crown would remain an elusive one but, after recovering to draw level by the break, from early in the second period it was clear that there would be only outcome to this replay.

Amazingly, Ballinderreen’s only score of the second-half came in its’ opening minute as a combination of defensive solidity and poor supply led to a meltdown in the team’s offensive. With Gregóir Ó Síoda in fine free-taking form in testing conditions and DD Ó Flatharta pitching in with critical points, Barna/Furbo powered over the finishing line with seven unanswered points.

On an energy sapping pitch which deteriorated as the weather worsened considerably after the interval, the higher fitness levels of Tomás Ó Curraoin’s men was a vital determining factor, as was an improvement in his side’s discipline in not conceding as many scoreable frees that had cost them so dearly in the drawn game.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.