Steven Sherlock interview: Barrs-Haven rivalry, Ballincollig threat and running through walls for JBM

Steven Sherlock of St. Finbarr's. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

When you’re a member of Cork football’s big three, your only benchmark and barometer is how you match up against the other two members.

For the Barrs, the barometer readings hadn’t been hectic these past few years.

Thoroughly outplayed by southside rivals Nemo Rangers in the 2022 county final. Similarly outplayed and stretched by Castlehaven in the ‘23 and ‘24 semi-finals. 

The losing margins of four, two, and four points again were not reflective of the extent of Nemo and Castlehaven’s superiority in those games.

Injuries were a mitigating factor on occasion, as was the case 12 months ago when half of the current starting defence was crocked and unavailable. 

But on other occasions such as the 2022 county final, which the Barrs entered as the strongest of favourites, they simply never got off the bus.

The bus brought them to West Cork two weeks ago for their latest barometer reading in the company of a fellow big three card-carrier. What they proceeded to produce was their most devastating display since the 2022 semi-final where they similarly overwhelmed the Haven.

“It probably was our best performance, yeah, in three years,” agrees Barrs captain Steven Sherlock, the provider of 3-3 in the six-goal stunning of the back-to-back champions.

In 2022, as noted above, they failed to finish the job when so convincingly bettering a fellow big-three member.

The class of 2025 is much changed from that side, infused with a shot of fresh faces. Seven players who started the 6-11 to 0-19 quarter-final victory did not begin the 2022 semi-final win over the same opposition. 

Five of the seven - goalkeeper Darragh Newman, Ciaran Doolan, William Buckley, John Wiggington Barrett, and Ricky Barrett - were nowhere near the action three years ago. 

Ethan Twomey was a first-year starter in 2022, he is now a central cog in the blue machine.

“We are starting to gel at the right time, so hopefully everything continues for the next few weeks. The quarter-final was one of those crazy games. Despite scoring goals, it still always felt it was nip and tuck the whole way. That is just Barrs and Castlehaven, there is never more than a kick of a ball between the two. It is a great rivalry. We were just delighted to come out of it.

Pat Horgan, Chairperson Cork Gaa and Brendan Harrington, McCarthy Insurance Group CEO with Steven Sherlock, St. Finbarr's and Liam O'Connell, Ballincollig, ahead of the Premier SFC semi-final, at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

“But absolutely nothing won. Onto the semi-finals against Ballincollig and that is where the concentration lies. Any team in this grade is capable of doing great things, so you have to be on the ball every time you play. If you don't perform, you won't win. It's as simple as that.” 

The hope out in Togher was that the footballers would be chasing the club’s second semi-final victory in the space of seven days this Sunday. The double dream, though, died last weekend when the hurlers - featuring as they did eight dual operators - fell to Sars by the solitary.

Up to that point, the weekend after weekend succession of victories across the two codes had proven “infectious” for all sides.

“We got a taste of it in 2022 when both got to the county final. They were fantastic times for the club. We have learned fairly well to deal with the dual situation. The club mentality is one in, all in. We just want the best for every team.

“When we see the hurlers doing well, it gives us a boost going back into training that we have a job to do to represent everybody down the club. The senior camogie team is in the final, so it is all going towards the one thing. We just want to keep that momentum going as much as we can,” continued Sherlock, who was speaking prior to the hurlers making their exit.

Aiding that effort from the sideline is the legendary figure of Jimmy Barry-Murphy. Giving back in various capacities, he was also on the line midweek as part of the Barrs minor hurling management that won the Premier 2 county title. 

The current and future generations both roused by having him in their corner.

“You just want to run through the wall for him anytime he talks. No matter what club you are in Cork, everyone thinks that about Jimmy. He is iconic. To be able to be in the dressing-room with him is special. All the lads think the same. It drives you on, there are no two ways about it. We are just delighted to have Jimmy involved,” Sherlock concluded.