Jimmy Barry-Murphy lauds character and composure of St Finbarr's

The Tipperary champions led as late as the 58th minute, only for the Barrs to land the final four points to swing a 1-17 to 2-11 victory.

Sat, 15 Nov, 2025 - 16:32

Stephen Barry

Jimmy Barry-Murphy hailed St Finbarrs' character and composure to battle back from behind to defeat Clonmel Commercials.

The Tipperary champions led as late as the 58th minute, only for the Barrs to land the final four points to swing a 1-17 to 2-11 victory.

“We looked like we were gone. Away from home in these conditions, it's hard to get scores back. It was heart-in-the-mouth stuff in the end, but we just got there,” said Barrs selector Barry-Murphy.

“It was a fantastic game in the conditions. Both sides, full credit to them. Clonmel are an excellent team. They've had a tough year, obviously losing Philly Ryan recently. Terrible tragedy for their club, and you could see what it meant to them.

“Our lads were brilliant to finish the way we did. The key to the whole thing was our composure on the ball. We worked into great scoring situations and got the ball to key players. That's a very good trait for any team.

“William Buckley came alive. He's a brilliant footballer for us and a brilliant hurler as well, but he got great scores and created great openings.

“Again, Steven Sherlock… two-pointers have changed the game, and he's just a very talented player who’s able to do that.”

Barry-Murphy and the Barrs management team were happy to see their team’s enthusiasm to set aside their Cork title for a crack at the Munster Championship.

“They celebrated for a night or two and they came to us. We were thrilled, because we wanted to have a go off it. But it was the players who led this.

“Ian Maguire and Steven Sherlock came to me leaving Páirc Uí Chaoimh and they both said that they wanted to go after the Munster Club Championship – if we're good enough.

“There are obviously very good teams left in it, but that's their attitude, and that's what we wanted to see.

“It's fantastic. I never thought I'd see this again, so for me it's a great bonus. I love being involved in it. It's a great competition.”

Next up is a semi-final against Clare champions Éire Óg Ennis.

“We gather it's a home game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, so that's a bonus for us as well,” said Barry-Murphy.

“This time of year, you saw the conditions today, it's going to be very, very difficult.

“All my life I've played Munster club hurling and football championships, and that's what you've got to do at this time of year. You're going to meet these conditions, and it takes a lot of character.”

Commercials boss Tommy Morrissey felt his side played the better football for long stretches, but lost out to the Barrs’ efficiency in front of the posts.

“In terms of the performance, I wouldn't be critical of anything. I thought we were brilliant,” he said.

“I'd say St Finbarr's might admit, even to their level, we were probably a little bit ahead of them on the day. But they were just more clinical up the top end of the field. When you have players like Sherlock, he can do that to you.

“He was very clinical. Any opportunity he got from a dead ball, he punished us. Some of them we gifted to him, which will hurt, but performance-wise, from ourselves, delighted with it.

“They're an unbelievable group of players and, as a club, we're blessed to have them. We know that. In particular, how they've handled themselves in the last four weeks, it's been completely admirable.”