Battling Barr’s bounce back

FROM a calamitous first half position, St Finbarr’s staged a storming recovery to beat Cloyne in last night’s Evening Echo Cork SHC second round clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

In the opening round St Finbarr’s came from behind to overhaul Midleton for a narrow success, but they took the art of comeback to a more elevated plateau here. In the first-half St Finbarr’s challenge looked to be smouldering. By the 24th minute they were staring into the barrel of 0-10 to 0-2 deficit and shipping water in sectors all over the pitch. But a constructive scoring burst before the break that generated 1-2 helped them hang onto Cloyne’s coattails at the midway juncture.

Then, in the second-half, St Finbarr’s emerged an emboldened force, gradually pegging Cloyne back to parity and then when they hit the front in the closing quarter, they were able to rely on their reserves of energy and athleticism to stay ahead by the final whistle.