It may come as a surprise to many people in the GAA fraternity that the present St Finbarr’s senior football manager Brian Roche was the first Irish player to win a Heineken Cup medal following Bath’s success in 1998. As a 22-year-old he got a trial with the English club but with so many English stars in the squad, he was never going to make a quick impact. When he finally got an opportunity in their absence, he took it with both hands and secured a European medal. After starting his rugby career with Highfield as a 16-year-old, Roche managed to win Youth and U21 Irish caps and was also part of a national academy. He lined out with Munster as a 19-year-old before moving to Bath three years later, competing at the highest level in the club game. Now firmly rooted in the GAA world Roche’s journey with the Barrs began in 2004 when he joined up with his friend Jimmy Barry-Murphy as strength and conditioning coach with their senior hurlers. After another couple of years with the Barrs hurlers Roche then joined Gerald McCarthy with the Cork senior hurling team in 2008. When the present Cork manager Pat Ryan took over Sarsfields in 2012 he approached Brian to get involved. “I did one year with Pat in which we won the county and after a one-year break, I joined him again in 2014 when we defeated Glen Rovers in the final,” Roche said. The recent passing of Ray Ryan shocked the GAA fraternity and Brian was devastated for his family. “It was something out of the blue that shocked us all and my condolences must go to his family, club and community on the passing of a true gentleman." A return to the Barrs was forthcoming as he joined up with Paul O’Keeffe the football manager in 2021. “The year I returned we won the county and Munster championships and lost in the semi-final of the All-Ireland club championship and although I stayed on the following year, we lost the county final to Nemo Rangers.” In 2023, the Barrs appointed Brian as their football manager and now in his second season, he is enjoying the experience. I suppose getting good people around me was important and all the people involved are good folk and we have a decent squad of players with superb attitudes.” In many of the top clubs, the dual role can be demanding but Roche doesn’t have any problem in that department. “We have a few dual players but our biggest problem last season was having big injuries when Sam Ryan and Billy Hennessy were missing and then you look at Eoin Comyns and Colm Barrett but the good news is that they are all making their way back to us. “In my book the dual role can be positive as we were always a club that competed at the top tier with players mixing it and that’s never going to change as when one is going well it feeds into the other code.” Growing up in Togher is a big advantage to Roche in his present role. “I grew up in an era when the Barrs were competing annually for county titles in both codes and that’s what I love as maybe I am a traditionalist when it comes to this subject. “Looking back to 2022 when losing to Nemo that would have gave us a double that was a huge disappointment as Newcestown managed to do it in 2023 in the Senior A grade a huge achievement for that club.” The change of the new rules is a positive for the Barrs chief. I think it's great as we are now looking at expansive football and more contests of kick-outs and when everybody is singing from the same hymn sheet it will be a far better spectacle. “Before the new rules came in we never played blanket defence and although one could say we were naïve but I like teams to play free-flowing football.” Presently, the Barrs are involved in the league campaign winning their opening two games against Cill na Martra and Éire Óg. “We are using many young lads that have come through the club programme and that’s huge for us.” Looking ahead to the championship Roche is hoping to have his side ready for action come August. “We have a tough group as we have Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers and Carrigaline and we will need to be ready for what I'm envisaging that all three games test our credentials.”