Patrick Kelly: Football's new rules suit the Barrs but Knocknagree will bring a crumb of Kerry to Cork's top table

When St Finbarr's hit the psychological wall, they were carried over the line by their bench press with all contributing. Meanwhile, Knocknagree will be dining at Cork's top table in 2026 - and won't be out of place

POUNCING: St Finbarr's' Steven Sherlock gets to the breaking ball ahead of Kieran Histon of Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Dan Linehan

IT was a weekend of copious Jim Gavin references, but his influence was as undeniable as it was palpable in Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday as the FRC's bold initiatives sprinkled Cork's football finals with an extra spice. 

I had my slight reservations about the new kickout rule with the ball having to travel beyond the 40-meter arc. I feared it would limit the variety of kickouts with short to mid-range now extremely risky - hence, leading to a singular type of restart - the long bomb into heavy traffic. While it has increased the percentage of long kickouts, the value of the spectacle of high contests is worth its weight in gold. 

Additionally, the quick attacks off a kickout won are a huge source of opportunity. Nemo Rangers' goal in the first half of the Cork Premier SFC final was a case in point. Briain Murphy fielded a Darragh Newman kickout and before the Barrs were settled, Kevin O’Donovan had sliced through to rifle home a cracker. In spite of that example, the reality is the Barrs ruled the skies at Páirc U Chaoimh. They won 66% of their own kickouts and 55% Nemo’s, giving them a serious platform. 

It is hard to be critical of Nemo in this regard. The Barrs are blessed with Ian Maguire, Brian Hayes, Ethan Twomey and Ricky Barrett. Not only tall men but also carrying significant bulk. Luke Hannigan only added to this with a virtuoso display of fielding in the second half. 

It was aerial dominance that turned the tide in favour of the Blues against Ballincollig in the semi-final and it was their key weapon again on the big stage.

If anybody doubted the self-belief of the Trabeg outfit, that was put to bed early on as Nemo settled into their rhythm without any fuss. Their defensive stability is rarely mentioned but with Stephen Cronin rock solid at centre-back, they were stifling the Barrs running power. 

In a very physical encounter, they won the turnover count at 21 to 15 with disciplined tackling and ferocious intensity forcing reckless Barrs shooting with nine first half missed chances from the Togher side. 

In possession, Nemo were so clever and measured. Very few Cork club sides play any sort of heads-up football. Nemo are masters of it. Little pop passes into a full forward line player looking to spin for his own score or looking to offload to a runner at speed. 

Mark Cronin and Brian Hayes were dangerous; sharp movement and lovely dink passes were causing real damage. Unfortunately for them; that first half efficiency dropped badly in the second half which ultimately cost them.

HERO: St Finbarr's mentor Jimmy Barry Murphy celebrates his side's victory with his daughters, Ann (left) and Orla, and granddaughters Saoirse (left) and Elizabeth after the Cork Premier SFC final against great rivals Nemo Rangers at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

The game didn’t disappoint for entertainment value but is well short of a classic on account of the below-par scoring stats. The decider could easily have finished up in the 2-18 to 2-17 category with at least a couple of good goal chances going abegging for each side. 

From play, Nemo edging the scoring efficiency with 47% to St. Finbarr’s 45%. After the Barrs blistering start to the second half - going from two down to four up - it felt like they hit a bit of a psychological wall. They spurned chances, ran into turnovers and, in general, felt like they started to play for the final whistle. 

They were carried over the line by their bench press with all contributing; culminating in Cillian Myers Murray’s winner. Only Nemo’s uncharacteristic inefficiency in front of the posts saved them.

Knock’in on Heaven’s door

Incredibly, Knocknagree will begin the 2026 season in the top tier of Cork football for the first time. On the evidence of Sunday's SAFC final, and indeed of recent years, they will more than hold their own. 

What struck me most again was their style of play; heads-up football. Their use of Niall O’Connor as the focal point of their attack was outstanding; he finished with 1-3 from play. Six of their players got at least two scores from play. The difference in their style was the willingness to kick or handpass the ball over the defensive line to runners coming out from the inside line. 

John Fintan Daly hasn’t been shy about the influence of their neighbours over the border on their style of play. Himself and John O'Dwyer had this Knocknagree side purring. Until the late Cill na Martra surge, this was as comprehensive a county final performance as I’ve seen. 

DAniel Ó Duinnín, Cill na Martra getting the ball away under pressure from Knocknagree's Timmy O'Connor and Daniel O'Mahony. Pict: Dan Linehan

They played flamboyant football when allowed to do so. They were sensible when they needed to be; Gearóid Looney hand-passing over two points at the start of the second half an example of this. Their big players performed. Daniel O’Mahony was a colossus at centre back. Micheal McSweeney was a deserving man of the match, but his cousin and county player Eoghan was equally as influential. 

Two points from play including the vital second half strike which nudged them five clear, ending the west Muskerry men’s fightback.

All in all, two deserving winners from two decent games. The Barrs now have a right chance to go on and contest Munster honours and maybe more. For Knocknagree, it’ll be a short winter as they dream of raising Andy Scannell in twelve months' time. On this evidence, not beyond the realms of possibility.