Picture shows Barry in action for Munster V Perpignan in 1998

BLAST FROM THE PAST

“I went to Bath vs Irish in May 2022 ,I asked this old Bath supporter in the pub did he remember Rochey”.”He replied that guy was rapid.” John McNamara Any Craic Magazine..

Brian Roche was a pacey fullback who represented Munster on many occasions and Ireland at Under 21
level.
What are your early memories of rugby?
Gaelic games was my first love with St. Finbarr’s, but my father Mossy suggested Highfield at under sixteen
as he had played up there in the Seventies. I took to rugby from the start settling in at full back winning a
trophy every season with Paddy Roche as coach. I was selected for both Munster and Ireland youths. I left
Highfield for Sundays Well attracted by the prospect of being coached by Kiwi Murray Kidd who had had
great Ail success with Garryowen, I made my full Munster debut aged Twenty One and also represented
Ireland at under 21 that season.
When did you get your first Senior break?
I played Senior for Highfield against Trinity while still Under Eighteen and I debuted for the Well Seniors on
the Wing as Colm Hayes had broken his thumb. The following season I was selected for Munster against
Ulster in Musgrave Park with Anthony Foley also making his debut. This was the peak period of my career
and I was part of an elite academy of twelve Irish players earmarked by the Irfu. The 1994 Sundays Well
Munster cup winning team was an outstanding team and competition for places was intense. At under
Twenty level we lost a cup final to Cork Con after being 21-3 ahead at half time with second half refereeing
decisions going against us.
What were the highlights of your career?
I had just turned Twenty Three and was offered a trial with Bath along with Conor Burke from the Well. I
turned it down initially but later ended up signing and making my debut against Newcastle on Sky in the
first season of the English premiership, it was fairytale stuff. The competition in Bath for a wing berth was
intense with Simon Geoghan, Ieuan Evans, Jon Sleightholme available, despite this I played in the group
stages of the Heineken cup and was awarded a cup medal in 1998 as Bath beat Brive 19-18 in the final. I
returned to Ireland with Shannon losing to Cork Con in a crunch Ail match with former Well players John
Lacey, John O’ Neill and Connor Burke all with Shannon and Munster at that time 1999/2000. I played many
matches for Munster at this time but didn’t secure a contract.
Who did you enjoy playing with and who was your most difficult opponent?
I enjoyed my time with Sundays Well as Charlie Haly and Sean McCahill were first class players who I learned
a lot from. I found Dublin teams tricky as they retained the ball and ran it back at you. Pat Murray full back
for Shannon was a formidable opponent but I did not play against him much

John McNamara Any Craic Magazine.

Jerry Hurley played for Pres, College and Sundays Well RFC but became famous for a match he did
not actually play in.
What are your early memories of rugby.
I returned from Essex in 1962 as my father inherited a farm outside Ballinahassig. We had to find an
English speaking school and set up an interview with Brother Angelo the Headmaster of Pres. We
noticed a lot of rugby trophies but were skeptical as we were die hard soccer fans being Londoners.
My brother started rugby first and gave me some back garden training in tackling I got the technique
right and impressed my new rugby playing peers in Pres. I was appointed Vice Captain of Pres
Juniors. We had a great cup run beating Rockwell in Cashel with Eammon DE Valera in the crowd, we
won the cup after a final replay against St Munchins I captained the Seniors from full back but we
were beaten.
When did you get your first Senior break.
I started playing Minor and Junior for UCC but got called into the Senior squad due to Injuries.
College skipper Tommy Barrett got a red card in our Cup match against Young Munster, my
memories of that game included wearing nailed on boots and making a try scoring break but being
blown up for a forward pass.
What were the highlights of your career.
We went on tour to Canada with College(Pat Parfrey was captain).I was sharing with Christy
Cantillon and we had two glasses of whisky on our lockers as Prof Fahy did the night time checks. He
said well done for being in bed and asked could he come back and join us for one after the checks.
We made the Munster Senior Cup final but our coach Dr Leahy had to do some surgery on me as I
had damaged ribs to get me on the pitch for the final against Dolphin. We won the Cup but I could
not enjoy the celebrations as I was in agony after the operation particularly as Phil O Callaghan
enquired “how are your ribs “as he scrummaged hard all afternoon. I finished College and joined the
Well as I promised them I would always join them, I got a letter to say I had secured a trial for
Munster and ran three miles every evening. This extra fitness paid off as I struck two against the
head from Pat Whelan who acknowledged I had been training hard .I was selected on the bench for
the 1978 game against the All Blacks and became famous for being part of a game I did not play in. I
was blocked out for Ireland by Leinsters Cantrell and Munster by Pat Whelan. My biggest highlight
was coaching Navan who won the Ireland under eighteen clubs and my son emerged from this team
but later played professionally with Munster rather than Leinster.
Who was your most difficult opponent and who did you enjoy playing with.
Ginger McLoughlin of Shannon Munster and Ireland was my toughest opponent .I loved playing with
Jim Sheehan Second row from Bandon, Christy Cantillon and Garrett Fitzgerald in UCC were great
forwards. I loved playing with Smoky Joe and Ned O Neill two great props in the Well.
Have you been involved since you stopped playing.
I am currently back in Cork after forty years in Leinster and following Sundays Well in Ail 2c with my
son Dennis Hurley coach this season.