St Finbarr’s Paul O’Keeffe on club management and his grá for the Blues

AFTER managing St Finbarr’s to win the Cork football championship in 2021, when defeating Clonakilty, to last season after going down to Castlehaven manager Paul O’Keeffe decided to call time.

Having previously led UCC to lift the Andy Scannell Cup in 2011, O’Keeffe had lots of experience but he’s content now watching his son Tomás playing with his beloved club. O’Keeffe was introduced to the College by John Grainger and worked for many years with the team and manager Billy Morgan.

“It was no secret that I always wanted to get into management and it was a case of biding my time at the Barrs.” 

They made the breakthrough in 2018 with Kerry native Ray Keane at the helm.

“Thankfully the position became available and I ended up as manager with a great group of players that possibly should have completed two in a row after their 2021 success but, look, when you are up against Nemo you have got to be on top of your game,” he said.

Working with St Finbarr’s was a joy for O’Keeffe, whose daily occupation is a doctor running his own practice at Broadale Medical Centre at Maryborough Douglas.

Running a practice as a doctor has its own pressures and to me when I come through the gates at Togher it’s similar to a breath of fresh air.

“I am still involved with our minor football team and generally I enjoy taking in St Finbarr’s games at various grades,” he added.

Looking at the Barrs over the least decade have been competitive at the top tier and even in Paul’s reign they reached two semi-finals, won one county and a Munster title as well as losing one county final to Nemo Rangers.

“Probably looking back winning the county and Munster championships in the same season was one I will always keep in my head but to me it was always about the players because at the end of the day these are the guys who win you games.”

So why did a man who basically loves the sport decide to leave the job?

“Winning the county was great but not repeating it I felt wasn’t what I forecast so I felt maybe a new voice was needed as we do have some quality players at the club.

“When we lost the county final to Nemo in 2022 it took a lot of mental energy from me and then to lose out to Castlehaven in the semi-final last season cemented my decision that we needed to freshen things up.” 

This season Brian Roche is the new manager and the addition of Jimmy Barry-Murphy to the coaching staff was a major coup for the club.

Jimmy has an incredible presence at the Barrs and in GAA in general and his love for the club is unique in what he is giving back to the sport.

“When you think he was involved with our minor hurling team last season shows his commitment and love for our club and the lads are loving him on board.

“Brian has a steadying influence and hopefully the lads can build on previous experiences and hopefully they will go the full distance on this occasion.” 

O’Keeffe grew up on Magazine Road and his father was a former treasurer of the Barrs and his mother played camogie with the club so one could say it’s a family steeped in the club with blue blood running through their veins.

BALANCE

Dual clubs can sometimes be squeezed but he believes there are no issues at St Finbarr’s.

“We tend to work well together as we give space to one another and to be honest it’s worked out well for all concerned.

“I don’t think we will ever witness what the late Teddy McCarthy did in 1990 and it’s a pity as we have guys in this country with both skills at a high level.” 

As for the standard of football in Cork city and the country in general…

“I do believe the club scene is fairly good in this city and county if you look at our record in Munster in recent times as the top sides in Cork are competitive.

“On the intercounty scene football will always be a second choice to the fans but who could blame them with some of the tactics that teams at inter-county level possess and its such a long time since we have won an All-Ireland title in either code that the fans are yearning for them to reach the Holy Grail.”