As it happened: Sars and Midleton book their place in Cork SHC final
Barry O'Flynn, Sarsfields celebrates his goal against St Finbarr's in their Co-Op Superstores Premier SHC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Dan Linehan
Full time and Sars defeat St Finbarrs to set up a meeting with Midleton in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship Final.
Dramatic day of hurling down the Páirc. Be sure to head over to our website for the best of the analysis and reaction to both games.
And of course, be sure to buy a paper tomorrow with plenty more GAA action happening across the country.
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SARSFIELDS WIN!
Colm McCarthy hits the post.
Barrs free, a good bit inside their own half. Between their own 65 and 45.
Sars now two in front and Brian Hayes fires wide for the Barrs. They probably need a goal now really.
Ben Cunningham taps over the free. One between the sides.
Great score by Cian Darcy, Sars edge two in front again.
Ben Cunningham strikes over his free to put one between the sides again.
Shane O'Regan breaks away from his man but his thunderous drive is saved well by goalkeeper Shane Hurley. That could have been that. Conor McCarthy hits the 65 wide so the difference remains two points.
Sars restore their two point lead. The excellent Colm McCarthy knew that was over before everyone else.
Jack Cahalane run and point reduces the deficit to the minimum. The Barrs needed that.
Colm McCarthy moves Sars two ahead with a free from close in.
Sars lead. Monster score from long-range, much to the delight of their fans.
46mins Powerful run and a great score from Jack O'Connor and we are level.
Two rushed shots results in two bad wides for Sars.
Two quick scores by Colm McCarthy and Cian Darcy moves Sars to within one of the Barrs.
Ben Cunningham drills his free over into the wind but Sars respond perfectly with a point of their own.
The two teams swap scores. William Buckley at one end for the Barrs before Jack O'Connor scores for Sars. As you were. A goal between them.
McCarthy denied by a great save from Shane Hurley but he makes no mistake with his 65.
Colm McCarthy picks up from where he left off in the first half as he sends over a free.
'That's bit of a Patrick Horgan job there' 😱
— Clubber (@clubber) October 5, 2025
Barry O'Flynn gave the goalkeeper no chance with a rocket to the roof of the net 🚀
Watch the @OfficialCorkGAA PSHC on ➡️ https://t.co/yMkMTpFUIK 🔗 pic.twitter.com/q2YCXlBHvC
Half time and it is the Barrs who are in control here. Playing with the wind, goals from William Buckley and Brian Hayes are currently the difference as they lead by six. Barry O'Flynn with a brilliant goal for Sars but they are far from out of it.
Some score that by Jack Cahalane, helps St Finbarrs into a fix point lead.
Colm McCarthy fires over a free, just.
St Finbarrs stretch their lead to five as the referee signals four minutes will be added on.
Sam Cunningham from a tight angle but he raises a white flag. The Barrs lead by four.
End-to-end here. But Brian Hayes, who had been quiet up until recently, shows his briliance. He catches the ball over his man before drilling it into the back of the net. Unstopable.
And just like that Sars lead. Brilliant goal by Barry O'Flynn, blasted into the far top right corner of the net from a tight angle. Buckley respons for Barrs though and we are level. Again.
23mins William Buckley and Brian Hayes (his first) score in quick succession for the Barrs.
Colm McCarthy wearing black number 11 fires over another free. Following on from Conor Lehane's earlier heroics. Which you can read about below. Level here. Surely it won't go to extra time as well?
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Goalkeeper Ben Graham takes it but blasts it over the bar. Big chance for a goal not taken there.
Great catch and turn by James Sweeney. He kicks the ball over the bar but is fouled in the process so it will be a penalty.
Sars' Colm McCarthy again makes no mistake with his free.
Ben Cunningham sends it over the blackspot with a well struck free. The Barrs lead by a goal.
Excellent score over the shoulder by Barrs midfielder John Wiggington Barrett.
Colm McCarthy convert his free, his second of the game.
Ben Cunningham hits back for the Barrs to edge them in front once again. Jack Cahalane quickly follows suit to double their lead.
Looked like James Sweeney was thinking about going for goal but he takes his point. Level again.
Nice score under pressure by James Sweeney. Sars playing into the wind as well in this half.
Well worked move creates space for Ethan Twomey and he splits the posts.
Sars score from play thanks to Cian Darcy.
Sars on the board thanks to a Colm McCarthy free.
William Buckley cuts inside and blasts the sliotar into the roof the net. Barrs lead.
The Barrs now lead the wide count 2-1.
Both sides hit an early wide.
B Graham; C O'Sullivan, C Roche, D English; B Murphy, L Elliott, C Leahy; D Hogan, K Murphy; J O'Connor, C McCarthy, C Darcy; D Kearney, J Sweeney, B O'Flynn.
S Hurley; E Keane, J Burns, D Cahalane; C Cahalane, B Hennessy, C Doolan; E Twomey, J Wiggington Barrett; J Cahalane, B Cunningham, W Buckley; S Cunningham, J O'Kelly, B Hayes.
Now that the dust has settled after semi-final 1, time for semi-final 2.
Brilliant from Conor Lehane to win it for Midleton. Serious drama. Match report to follow. I need a cuppa tae before the next match starts. Read how Midleton defeated the Rockies below.
CONOR LEHANE SENDS HIS FREE OVER THE BAR.
Conor Lehane’s free at the end of extra time that sent @MidletonGaa into the @OfficialCorkGAA SHC Final pic.twitter.com/V8v0vhe1x0
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 5, 2025
81mins Ball thrown in by the halfway line but Midleton win a free.
ONE MINUTED ADDED ON!
Alan Connolly wins a free in. From close to goal. Should level the scores again. And he does.
Blackrock win a 65, Alan Connolly's shot is blocked wide. He looks wrecked though. His brother and goalkeeper Gavin steps up and sends it over. One point in it again.
Big score for Midleton by David Cremin, edges them back into a two point lead. Pic below courtest of our photographer Dan Linehan.
Alan Connolly with a free close to goal. He taps it over.
Michael O'Halloran has gone off for the Rockies, huge blow. Alan O'Callaghan also withdrawn moments earlier.
Midleton ahead by three thanks to a stunning score under pressure on the sideline by David Cremin.
Patrick White with another score from play. His seventh of the game. They now lead by two.
Conor Lehane edges Midleton ahead from a free. He now has 0-11 overall.
Alan Connolly taps over a free. Level again.
Alan Connolly misses with a long free. He still has 1-10 today though.
Conor Lehane scores for Midleton. He's had a really good game. Mildeton with the wind in the first half of extra time.
3.34pm Confirmation the second match between Sars and the Barrs will now throw-in at 4.30pm.
The referee is back on the pitch but no sign of either team. There is a sign of Diarmuid O'Sullivan in his Sars gear, not thrilled to see the first game go to extra time.
Some strike into the wind by Alan Connolly to send this game to extra time. That, of course, also means the next match between Sars and the Barrs will be pushed back to about 4.30pm.
Long day ahead yet down the Páirc!
You can't beat class 👊
— Clubber (@clubber) October 5, 2025
Alan Connolly picks up the ball on the wing, beats two defenders and puts it over the bar 🔥
Watch the @OfficialCorkGAA PSHC on ➡️ https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/NwYlsttTFL
Blackrock 65. Probably the last puck of the game. Alan Connolly makes no mistake. Never in doubt.
Big pile up near the Midleton goal so the ball will be thrown in.
Patrick White gives Midleton the lead. Six points for him now, all from play.
The ball is out over on the far side. Blackrock sideline on the halfway line. Rolls through to the keeper.
Alan Connolly wins Blackrock a free on the left wing, on the 45 metre line. And he fires over. Level again.
59mins Killian McDermott gives Midleton the lead once again. This match has sparked into life.
The Rockies fight back to level once again.
Patrick White scores, followed by Conor Lehane and Midleton lead for the first time.
Tadhg O'Leary Hayes blasts over and the gap is back to one point.
Patrick White scores for Midleton, the gap is back to two points.
Blackrock provide the perfect response with two quick points of their own. End to end here.
Mikey Finn lands a monster point for Midleton. Four points in a row now. One between the teams.
Patrick White now moves Midleton to within just two points. Reminder that they are playing with the wind.
Conor Lehane's converted free puts just Alan Connolly's goal between the sides. We have a game on now as the crowd grows into it.
Midleton hanging in there as Patrick White fires over. They now trail by four.
Alan Connolly wins a free but his hurt in doing so, giving Michael O'Halloran the chance to step up and convert it, which he does.
This time Luke O'Farrell decides to take his point and gets it. To be fair, he had no other options.
Great save again by Gavin Connolly to deny Luke O'Farrell's thunderous drive. Almost everyone assumed he would tap it over but went for goal.
And from the resulting 65 Conor Lehane reduces the deficit to five.
Cormac Beausang is through on goal but Rockies keeper Gavin Connolly turns it wide of the bottom left corner. Great stop. Trevor Barry would've been proud of that.
Alan Connolly again makes no mistake from open play before Michael O'Halloran also sails it over the blackspot. Rockies lead by six.
After the Rockies hit wide twice in a row, Connolly raises a white flag. But Midleton again hit back straight away through Patrick White.
Wide count update. Blackrock 7 Midleton 5. Both hitting two in this second half.
Alan Connolly sends over another free. And Lehane responds with a 65 after Midleton miss a couple of goal chances.
Instant impact as Luke O'Farrell fires over moments after coming on.
Luke O'Farrell and Evan McGrath on for David Cremin and Sean O'Meara.
The Rockies lead by five but Midletona aren't out of it, they will play with the wind in the second half.
Alan Connolly runs away from his marker and fires over. His first point from play to add to his goal earlier. He's scored 1-5 overall.
Great score by Cormac Beausang, his first of the day. Midleton now trail by four playing against the wind.
Conor Lehane hits back with a free. His fourth score from a free, fifth overall.
Robbie Cotter fires over his second of the game from play. The Rockies ahead by six playing with the wind.
Cormac Walsh takes his point, just when it looked like he may fancy beating his man and racing in on goal.
Saunderson makes a good save to deny Alan Connolly another goal. The Rockies have a free now though. And Connolly sends it over, but not out of the stadium this time. Someone must have told him how much they cost!
Conor Lehane scores his first from play, his fourth overall.
It's now 2-2 on the wide count. And just as I've posted that, the Rockies hit another wide. Followed by another. 4-2 now.
Robbie Cotter opens his account with a nice score.
Saunderson thinks he's stopped a Michael O'Halloran shot from dropping over. But he hasn't. Good effort though. Rockies lead by five.
ALAN CONNOLLY GOAL 🔥
— Clubber (@clubber) October 5, 2025
Goal machine Alan Connolly wins the puckout and puts the ball low and hard into the net 💪
Watch the @OfficialCorkGAA SHC on ➡️ https://t.co/yMkMTpFmTc 🔗 pic.twitter.com/PHz9LonOMV
Conor Lehane proving to be just as accurate with his frees at the other end. Three converted by him now into the wind.
Alan Connolly with the chance to take his own tally to 1-3. And he makes no mistake, ballooning over a straight forward free out of the stadium. Twice he's done that now, he must know someone outside the Blackrock terrace.
There's a break in play as Midleton's goalkeeper Brion Saunderson receives treatment. He's back on his feet now though. Could he be Cork's number 1 next year? Time will tell.
Good respons by Midleton as Lehane splits the posts with his free.
Connolly races clear from his marker and drills it low past the keeper. Some start for the Cork forward, scoring 1-2 already.
Momentum now with Midleton as Cormac Walsh fires over.
Midleton finally open their account with a Conor Lehane free.
Ryan Sweeney sends over the Rockies' first point from play. Quickly followed by a run and score from Fionn Coleman. Blackrock lead by four.
Connolly fires over another free, this time from close to the halfway line. Good start for the Cork forward, and the Rockies.
Alan Connolly hits an early free over the bar and out of the stadium.
Blackrock will play with the wind and will hit towards the Blackrock terrace in the first half.
Very nice touch this from the Rockies. Gavin Connolly will wear number 16 instead of number 1 to honour the memory of Trevor Barry, who passed away recently.
Both teams and supporters will now observe a minute's silence ahead of throw-in.
As a mark of respect for our late, great goalkeeper Trevor Barry, the Rockies number 1️⃣ jersey will not be in use today. Gavin Connolly will wear 1️⃣6️⃣ instead. pic.twitter.com/Z8ckKI7Mrj
— Blackrock Hurling (@RockiesCork) October 5, 2025
G Connolly; J Ryan, A O'Callaghan, S Murphy; C Cormack, J Cashman, D Meaney; N Cashman, D O'Farrell; F Coleman, K O'Keefe, R Sweeney; M O'Halloran, A Connolly, R Cotter.
B Saunderson; C Smyth, E Moloney, T O'Leary; L Dineen, T O'Connell, R O'Regan; S O'Meara, M Finn; C Walsh, C Lehane, K McDermott; P White, C Beausang, D Cremin.
Here are the teams for the first semi between Blackrock and Midleton.
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 5, 2025
No changes announced yet pic.twitter.com/nDdRSItQuv
One change to the Blackrock team from the programme, Fionn Coleman is in for Peter Linehan at right half forward. No changes to the Midleton team.
Midleton are currently out on the pitch but we are waiting for the Rockies, who have walked here from their grounds just over the road.
We are in position at Páirc Uí Chaoimh ahead of the Cork Senior Hurling Championship semi-final double header.
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 5, 2025
Stay tuned to our liveblog for regular updates pic.twitter.com/kdX7h1nybC
Right so, in position in the press box down the Páirc ahead of throw-in. Fine day here but a bit of a wind blowing from left to right, it seems.
Welcome all to our liveblog on a huge day in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship.
My name is Andrew Horgan and I will be talking you all through the best of the action from a massive semi-final double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Don't be fooled by the headline, I will be staying put in the press box to provide minute-by-minute updates on the Barrs vs Sars (throw-in 3:45pm), but first up is the clash between Blackrock and Midleton (throw-in 2pm).
I will be updating regularly from 1.30pm but until then, feel free to enjoy the best preview pieces from our website, which can be found below.
Seánie McGrath asks: Can surprise docket Barrs keep riding crest of wave to the final?
'He'll never be forgotten: Midleton pay tribute to Darragh McCarthy in championship push.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
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