How a 'proverbial kick up the hole' turned the Barrs season around

“Getting a loss early in the championship, you never want it. That defeat is definitely beneficial, so long as you use it in the right form, which I think we've done.”

HARSH LESSONS: Ian Maguire and St. Finbarrs have rebounded from surprising challenges.

Thirteen group games unbeaten. Thirteen group games untouched. An average winning margin of eight points. Only one team - Ballincollig, in 2021 - had come within two points or less of the Barrs.

Four years of group phase dominance and then bang. An unforeseen and unexpected wallop. Unbeaten and untouched no more.