Carrigaline overcome the Barrs in 2026 Championship opener

Carrigaline delivered a huge upset in the opening round of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Championship as they defeated county champions St. Finbarrs in Ballinhassig last Friday night. A strong second half performance and eight points from Éanna Desmond sealed the historic win for the Carrigdhoun side. 

Mick Meaney made a number of changes to Carrigaline’s starting fifteen. Outfield player Ryan Delaney replaced injured Séan Mellett in goal and Kieran Kavanagh made his impressive return to Senior championship following a long injury. 

The Barrs made an immediate impact with Bill O’Connell kicking the opening score. The Barrs continued to press as Carrigaline struggled to make it past the 45 . 

Carrigaline’s Kevin O’Reilly split the posts in the 5th minute. Moments later, Éanna Desmond attempted to double their score but his shot dropped short and Kieran McCarthy got the touch to put it past Darragh Newman in the Barr’s goal. 

Brian O’Driscoll furthered Carrigaline’s lead by four points before the Barrs were able to strike back. Cillian Myers Murray kicked the ball over the crossbar for a point. 

Carrigaline's Kieran Kavanagh takes on Enda Dennehy

Determined not to lose their early lead, Carrigaline continued to advance, and Desmond raised the white flag once again. 

After a number of wides, Brian Hayes broke the Carrigaline momentum as he caught a long ball and fired past Delaney in goal, bringing the game back to within a point. Enda Dennehy levelled the game soon after. The Barrs split the posts twice before Niall Coakley scored two more points in succession for Carrigaline. 

Both teams exchanged a point each, before Brian Hayes scored the first two-pointer of the game. Carrigaline replied with another point from Desmond. 

A free to the Barrs saw Steven Sherlock look to extend their lead going into half-time, but the ball dropped short. 

With the scoreline of 1-10 to 1-07 in favour of the Barrs at half-time, Carrigaline went into the second-half with the breeze on their back, and the match still within their grasp. 

Straight from the second-half throw-in, a pinpoint ball from Hayes to Rickey Barrett saw him strike for goal but a spectacular save on the line from corner-back Brían Murphy denied the Barrs a golden opportunity.

A miskick from Newman in the Barr’s goal led the ball to Desmond - via Kieran McCarthy - who got his first point of the second half. Added pressure from Carrigaline on the Barr’s kick began their reclaim of dominance. 

Two massive two-pointers from Brian Coakley were critical for Carrigaline’s momentum as they led the game by a point. A shot from Carrigaline’s Jack McCarthy dropped short in the hands of Newman, and a Barr’s turnover processed up the pitch and allowed William Buckley to level the match once again; 1-14 a piece. 

At the other end of the pitch, Brian O’Driscoll rounded the Barrs full-back to add another to the score sheet. 

The reply led by Hayes, who meandered his way through the Carrigaline defence, passed the ball off to Thomas Egan who palmed the ball into net scoring the Barrs second. 

Carrigaline reacted immediately with a point from Callum Barrett, and from there the Barrs lost their grip on the game. Another two-pointer, and score of the game came from the boot of Desmond, saw Carrigaline edge closer to their first win of the 2026 championship. 

In-form Desmond concluded Carrigalines scoring with what looked like the insurance point but the Barrs continued to push for a goal deep into injury time. Carrigaline’s hearts were nearly broken as Hayes thundered a shot from 20 yards which rattled the bar and ricocheted over reducing the deficit to a one score game. As Carrigaline called for the final whistle, the Barrs edged closer on goal one final time only to be denied by a crucial block by O’Driscoll. 

As the final whistle sounded, and shockwaves were sent through the PSFC, it was Carrigaline who announced their presence in this year's Championship. 

Scorers for Carrigaline: E Desmond 0-8 (1-2pt), N Corkery 0-5 (1-2ptf, 0-2f), K McCarthy 1-0, B O’Driscoll 0-3, B Corkery 0-2 (2pt), K O’Reilly 0-1.

St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 0-6 (3-2pt), B Hayes 1-3 (1-2pt), T Egan 1-0, C Myers-Murray 0-2, E Dennehy, B O’Connell, R Barrett, W Buckley (0-1 each).

Carrigaline: R Delaney; B Murphy, C O’Herlihy, K Kavanagh; C Barrett; C Barry, K McCarthy; P Mellett, J McCarthy; N Coakley, B O’Driscoll, C Kearney; K O’Reilly, B Coakley, E Desmond.

Subs: S Andrews for C Kearney (49).

St Finbarr’s: D Newman; S Ryan, A O’Connor, E Dennehy; B O’Connell, J Burns, C Doolan; I Maguire, B Hayes; J Wigginton-Barrett, S Sherlock, T Egan; C Myers-Murray, W Buckley, R Barrett.

Subs: L Hannigan for C Myers-Murray (46), C Scully for B O’Connell (53).

Referee: Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).