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30 November, 2019

Sunday the 30th November 1969 was a red letter day for Barryroe GAA when the junior footballers atoned for their previous bad luck that season by defeating Castlehaven (who won the championship), in the final of the Junior II league at Clonakilty. Matters were rather even in the first half with Castlehaven leading by five points to two at the short whistle.

When the champions tacked on two quick points after the resumption, things looked bleak, but when a Barryroe forward was sent off with twenty minutes to go, the fat was really in the fire. Undaunted, this only inspired the players to greater heights and they tore into their work with rare abandon. However, Castlehaven continued to win possession but that was all, Barryroe had "the bit" firmly between their teeth. Declan O'Donovan snapped up the ball on the 21, passed to Michael Whelton who sent Joe O'Leary sent in a bullet which would have gone as far as Ring if the net hadn't caught it. There was no stopping Barryroe now, and although they missed a few scoreable chances for points, greater things were in store. Joe O'Leary gathered a high ball on the fifty line and soloed deep into Castlehaven twenty-five before dropping in to the square. Declan O'Donovan was on it in a flash and whipped it over the goalies head and outside his reach. Denis O'Mahony's quick point put Barryroe two up and while Castlehaven tried to no avail the final whistle sounded and Barryroe went wild. Final score 2-04 to 0-08.

Not long after the club celebrated this win at their annual dinner dance at O'Neil's Hotel, Garrettstown.

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