Barry-Murphy: 'Brian Hayes is a fabulous footballer, as well as hurler. He'd be on any inter-county panel'

Brian Hayes scored 3-3 for the Barrs as they defeated Éire Óg Ennis to reach the Munster Club SFC final where they will face Dingle.

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025 - 19:22

Eoghan Cormican

Jimmy Barry-Murphy is in no denial about the day of the inter-county dual player being dead and gone. But if conditions ever facilitated its return, he knows that Cork have a ready-made poster boy in Brian Hayes.

A Cork senior footballer before he ever started picking up inter-county hurling accolades, Hayes’ 3-3 was the headline act in the Barrs' successful progression to a ninth Munster Club football final.

Barry-Murphy, himself a leading dual status holder back in the 1970s, said it’s “a pity” that players can no longer double up at inter-county level. If it was again doable, he reckons the Cork football management would be knocking on the door of more than one Barrs player currently in with the Cork hurlers.

“We'll never see a dual player again on the inter-county scene. It's a pity, but the way the seasons are just won't allow it to happen,” JBM remarked.

“Brian is a fabulous footballer, as well as hurler. He'd be on any inter-county panel. He's a very talented lad and the Cork footballers know it as well, in fairness. It goes without saying that they'd have him on their panel, along with probably a few of our other players who are hurlers as well.”

Luke Hannigan’s impressive first start of the 2025 championship allowed Hayes to spend longer than usual stationed inside. Enda Dennehy was another promoted off the bench from the off, with regular first-teamers Dylan Quinn (groin) and Jamie Burns absent at throw-in.

The positional switches that flowed from these two personnel changes in no way disrupted the Barrs' make-up. Cillian Myers Murray was introduced and pointed, fellow sub Eoin McGreevy assisted the completion of Hayes’ hat-trick.

There is more blue depth than was the case for their most recent Munster final appearance four years ago.

“We've been developing a very good panel this year,” Barry-Murphy continued.

“A lot of the younger players coming in are showing a lot of ability and that's very encouraging. It keeps players very interested and the competition for places is there as well.

“We were delighted with John Wigginton Barrett's performance today. He had a tough couple of games; he had a few injuries and things weren't going his way. I was thrilled that he had a great game today.”

After squeezing through in difficult conditions above in Clonmel, this Páirc Uí Chaoimh semi-final afforded more room for expression.

“Once we got to grips with the game and we got a lucky break with Brian's goal, we were obviously very happy at half-time after playing against a strong breeze and we had played some good football. Our scores were fantastic and our movement was quite good.

“In fairness to Éire Óg, I think the hurling did take a toll on a lot of their players so you've got to respect that.”