BARRY McGOLDRICK was one of five brothers who played for Eoghan Rua, Coleraine in last Sunday’s historic Ulster Junior Hurling Championship victory over Down side Ballela at Owenbeg.
And his vast experience played a huge part in ensuring the Bannsiders kept a tight grip on the opposition attack, limiting them to a meagre three points from open play. McGoldrick explained that, with so many dual players in the squad, the aftermath of the Senior Club Football Championship final defeat had been testing for the club.
“The past couple of weeks have been difficult enough, with losing in the football final, but hurling has come along and the boys have come out and put in the effort and it’s nice to get some silverware,” he said.
Barry's brother Seán Leo, who once scored 22 points in a hurling game, excelled against Ballela in a defensive role, the former Derry senior footballer adding: “Seán Leo is very good at that, sweeping up, as he reads the game very well, so to go in at six points up at half-time against the wind was a big advantage to us and had a big bearing on the result.”
And he also lauded his younger brother Colm’s performance: “Colm does not need much time with ball in hand and he reacts very quickly and took some lovely scores out there.”
But Barry did accept that a few good chances had been spurned: “We have a habit of going for goals when points might have been the better option,'' he added.
“We seem to try and go for the jugular much earlier than we should do and not take the easy points. But that’s the way Colm plays and I would not want him to change that at all.”
McGoldrick also reflected on the difficulties experienced by a dual club.
“It’s no secret that it’s difficult to be a dual club to try and keep both going. There is a high demand from the football, but we want to keep it going,'' he stressed.
“Our coaches at underage level put in a lot of time and effort, so it’s good to have three or four minors coming through each year to play at this level and, hopefully, they will hang around for years to come. We're very pleased with that conveyor belt of players from underage to senior ranks.”
Coleraine are one of the most progressive clubs in the county, with very strong football, hurling and camogie traditions. County senior titles have been won in football and camogie, so the success in hurling has a particular resonance in the club.
“After the football and camogie have had their successes in recent years, it’s definitely nice to win something in hurling,'' added McGoldrick.
“Big Pádraig [Ó Mianáin] has put in a lot of work down through the years, so it’s great for all the club members who are here today to see us get success in hurling and we now have an All-Ireland quarter final to look forward to. We’ll give it a go for as long as we can.”
