Relief for Barrs after Kanturk take high-stakes clash to the wire

The teams produced a massively entertaining and equally tight game.

Ciaran Doolin (Doolan) St Finbarr's makes a clearance from defence in the Co-Op Superstores Senior Hurling Championship Round game. St Finbarrs vs Kanturk at Mourne Abbey. Picture Larry Cummins

Cork Premier SHC: St Finbarr’s 0-25 Kanturk 1-17 

The Barrs are back in the big time. Group elimination 12 months ago was replaced by progression relief on this occasion. They earned their progression. Minus the injured Brian Hayes, their progression wasn’t banked until second-half injury-time.

The Barrs arrived in Mourneabbey knowing a draw would suffice. Kanturk required a win. Such were the stakes, both sides proceeded to produce massively entertaining and equally tight fare.

Kanturk, playing into a notable breeze, trailed by the minimum as the clock ticked towards the hour mark. They emerged out of defence with possession. A potentially leveling attack loomed.

The attack never happened. Kanturk ‘keeper Grantas Bucinskas slipped around 40 metres from his own goal. Possession spilled loose. Conor Cahalane pounced. The Cork senior footballer carried the sliotar inside the opposition 20-metre line, his goal shot blocked by a scrambling Kanturk defender.

Ben Cunningham converted the 65’ for a two-point, 0-22 to 1-17, Barrs lead. A crucial swing so late in proceedings. Ger Cunningham’s charges would add three more in the five-and-a-half-minutes of injury-time Diarmuid Kirwan played. Their middle-third was majestic here. Kanturk couldn’t get hands on ball to break a line and bring green flag chaos. They lost puckout after puckout.

William Buckley and a Ben Cunningham pair, which brought the latter’s personal tally into double digits, secured the five-point win and stamped their quarter-final ticket. There they will meet reigning champions Imokilly.

Where it was a middle third, orchestrated by Ethan Twomey, who finished so strong, it was their defence who were so central throughout a second half where Kanturk, against the elements, led on three separate occasions, the last of which was on 50 minutes.

Ger Cunningham, manager St Finbarr's on the sideline for the Co-Op Superstores Senior Hurling Championship Round game. St Finbarrs vs Kanturk at Mourne Abbey. Picture Larry Cummins

An intriguing feature of that defensive effort was the fascinating duel between Damien Cahalane and Alan Walsh. The latter had bested Damien and a second blue shirt for Kanturk’s first-half injury-time goal and a 1-9 to 0-11 lead.

But in the first two deliveries between the pair at the beginning of the second half, it was Cahalane who was fouled and stopped the danger. For one of those frees, Ben Cunningham traveled back inside his own 45-metre line and pointed.

In front of Cahalane, Billy Hennessy was equally solid. His interception of a Kanturk pass and subsequent pointing completed a three-in-row Barrs start to the second half. From 1-10 to 0-11 in arrears to 0-14 to 1-10 in front.

On 50 minutes, it was the turn of goalkeeper Shane Hurley to lead the second-half act of resistance. After the excellent Brian O’Sullivan and Lorcan O’Neill clipped back-to-back points for a 1-15 to 0-17 Kanturk lead, Paul Walsh cut in from the dressing-room side. His low shot for a four-point lead was repelled by the Blues No.1.

Buckley, Twomey, and sub Conor McCarthy registered the game’s next three scores. Another seismic swing in this game of little separation. Kanturk would never again stand level with their opponents. Despite Brian O’Sullivan’s six-point midfield brilliance, they bow out. The Barrs march on. They are back where they feel they belong.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: B Cunningham (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-2 65s); E Twomey, W Buckley, S Cunningham (0-3 each); C Cahalane, J Cahalane (0-2 each); B Hennessy, C McCarthy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kanturk: B O’Sullivan (0-6, 0-5 frees); A Walsh (1-1); R Sheahan (0-3 frees), L O’Neill (0-3 each); C Walsh, D O’Connell (0-2 each).

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; C Walsh, J Burns, D Cahalane; B O'Connell, C Doolan, B Hennessy; E Twomey, W Buckley; C Cahalane, B Cunningham, J Cahalane; J Wiggington Barrett, J O'Kelly, S Cunningham.

Subs: C O’Connor for Wiggington Barrett (39); C McCarthy for O’Kelly (50); C Crowley for O’Connell (51).

KANTURK: G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, M Healy, C Mullane; T Walsh, D Browne, P Walsh; B O’Sullivan, L McLoughlin; A Walsh, I Walsh, L O’Neill; C Walsh, D O’Connell; R Sheahan.

Subs: L O’Keeffe for O’Connell (40, inj); J Fitzpatrick for I Walsh (40).

Referee: D Kirwan (Éire Óg).