St Finbarr's finding their rhythm and their punch

The Barrs are beginning to get the gang back together again

Cork Premier SHC: St Finbarr’s 3-21 Bride Rovers 1-18 

Time. Time together. Extending their time together.

The Barrs hurling team is full of household names. It is full of Cork senior hurlers, Cork senior footballers, Cork U20 hurlers, Cork U20 footballers, dual club players, and dual players wearing the crests of two separate clubs.

When you factor in all those first-half-of-the-season commitments, you can begin to understand Paudie Murray’s statement that the Barrs had only one proper get-together of the entire group before their championship opener against Midleton three weeks ago.

That opener didn’t go at all well. They finished eight adrift of Midleton. It meant Saturday’s second outing carried must-win status.

Helpful so that this second outing came after four get-togethers of the full family on the Togher training field.

That number will rise again in the fortnight to their final group fixture against Newcestown. They’ll be stronger again for the increased time together. They’ll keep getting stronger the more time they have together.

“Our lead-up to this game was very, very good,” Murray began.

“People must remember that we've only just got together. It reminds me a small bit of a divisional set-up, in that we had one get-together before Midleton. We had four before this game.

“The longer we can stay going, the better we're going to get, and that's key.” 

After an inefficient and ho-hum second half against Midleton, the Barrs’ sharpness, punch, and final product was more along acceptable lines in the opening half hour against Bride Rovers.

Brian Hayes began at centre-forward, watched by Cillian Tobin, and linked well with a most potent inside line of Jack Cahalane, Ben Cunningham, and William Buckley.

It was Hayes’ superb vision to feed an over-the-top ball into Buckley that began the Barrs’ second major. The finish came from sub John Wigginton Barrett. He was an 18th minute replacement for the injured Jack Cahalane (hamstring), who’d assisted 0-2, thrown over a point, and had the initial shot for Ben Cunningham’s rebound goal during the relatively short time he was on the field.

“Brian will go for a scan in the morning, and let’s see from there. It doesn’t look good,” said Murray. “The worry we have is that two of our major players are in trouble again. I just wonder about this pitch. Lots of injuries coming out of it this year and last year. It's a major worry, and they're all leg injuries.” 

The pair's absence was eventually felt.

Tobin, Cormac Barry, Ronan O’Connell, and Kieran Keaney reeled off four without reply for newly promoted Bride Rovers to reduce the deficit to four - 2-15 to 0-17 - on 46 minutes. There was an opportunity to close the gap to three, but Cormac Barry’s free - he was the second player to assume dead-ball responsibilities after free-taker Adam Walsh departed injured in the opening half - dropped short.

Ethan Twomey, the busy and brilliant seven-point William Buckley, and Cunningham’s second goal reasserted the blue cause. Ciarán Doolan, further back, executed an impressive containment exercise on the heavily strapped Brian Roche.

They are off the mark and on the board. Secure a second victory at Newcestown’s expense on September’s first Sunday and their time together will extend to the knockout phase.

“When we looked at the Midleton game in detail, we had as much possession as Midleton. Even though people at the game may not think that, it was just the way we used the ball. We panicked in situations,” Murray continued.

“We have a certain style of playing. As I said, we had one session on the Wednesday night together. Trying to get that into the team isn't easy, so I think it probably went back to the old reliable, rather than playing the way we wanted.

“The key thing that we worked on over the last two weeks, really, was just composure with the ball and use it wisely.” Composure was present for the brief final quarter moments it was required.

Onto Newcestown, who they’ll meet in Enniskeane.

“We're taking a trip to West Cork, against a real club I always call them. Phenomenal people down there. We're going to get it hard. I'm looking forward to it.” 

As for Bride Rovers, the +9 score difference they brought into Saturday has been wiped out. Their challenge is to overcome Midleton by five points.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: B Cunningham (2-4, 0-2 frees); W Buckley (0-7); B Hayes (0-3); J Wigginton Barrett (1-0); S Daly (0-2); C Doolan, E Twomey, C McCarthy, J O’Kelly, J Cahalane (0-1 each).

Scorers for Bride Rovers: C Barry (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); C Tobin (1-1); P O’Flynn (0-3, 0-1 free); K Kearney, A Walsh (two frees), R O’Connell (0-2 each); D Barry, B Roche L Roche (0-1 each).

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; C Walsh, J Burns, S Daly; D Cahalane, C Doolan, J Murray; C Cahalane, E Twomey; C McCarthy, B Hayes, J O'Kelly; J Cahalane, B Cunningham, W Buckley.

Subs: J Wigginton Barrett for Cahalane (18, inj); R Barrett for Hayes (HT, inj); C Crowley for Daly (43-45 mins, temporary).

BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; D Cashman, E Roche, J Ahern; K Kearney, C Tobin, C Hazelwood; R O’Connell, C Barry; C Ryan, B Roche, P O’Flynn; D Barry, A Walsh, L Roche.

Subs: C O’Riordan for Walsh (22, inj); C O’Sullivan for D Barry (32); C Barry for L Roche (59).

Referee: S Stokes.

 

Footage courtesy of Clubber TV.

CORK SPORT

A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.