'A few more per cent in us': Ethan Twomey believes Barrs can improve

Twomey the Barrs 'know there is serious potential in the squad, it is just to kind of get it clicking'

Ethan Twomey was a key player for St Finbarr's as they beat Kanturk in the Cork Premier SHC semi-final. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Ethan Twomey knew the performance was there. The belief never left him that the performance would eventually come. But he also admits frustration that the performance hadn’t arrived before county semi-finals weekend.

Many factors combined to send St Finbarr’s all the way to the last four of the Cork hurling championship without converting their obvious potential into a performance that went anywhere near standout.

Their stalemate with Newcestown on the final day of group action was sufficient to claim second spot given Bride Rovers were unable to hold onto the late, late lead they had worked themselves into against Midleton.

The quarter-final draw thereafter was most favourable. The Imokilly quarter-final[[/url] draw became even more favourable on the eve of said fixture when various members of the opposition line-up were ruled out of action for the following day’s fare such was the taxing nature of their respective club quarter-finals.

And so, the Barrs entered Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the penultimate round of the championship having not come within a distance of their performance ceiling.

Said ceiling was glanced at during a devastating final 14 minutes where they outgunned Kanturk 1-9 to 0-3 to turn a four-point deficit into a five-point winning margin. The Barrs belatedly showed themselves and everyone else what they are capable of.

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Across those closing 14 minutes, they won six of Kanturk’s 10 restarts. They largely turned off the tap that was the supply of ball into Kanturk’s inside pairing of Alan and Colin Walsh. The former was forced to forage out the field in search of involvement and possession. They held their opponents scoreless from the 56th minute onwards.

Twomey was masterful in the semi-final turning blue. His goal ignited their roaring finish. Of their seven-in-a-row from the 57th minute onwards, he was responsible for the second white flag to bring his personal tally from midfield to 1-3, assisted two more, and properly began the play that ended with a Jack Cahalane point when taking on and beating three Kanturk players deep in his own half.

“We always know there is serious potential in the squad, it is just to kind of get it clicking. There is probably a few more per cent in us. It is frustrating at times [when the performance isn't coming], but everyone is just trying to do the right thing,” Twomey began.

“The belief is always there. It is nearly harder to put what you are thinking out on the field every single time, but we are just delighted with that display, especially the last 10 minutes.

“I think we just kept it simple, really. Your hard work is your backbone of everything. We gave the simple passes, tackled from behind, all the key metrics you are looking for. To keep it simple goes a long way.

“There were lads dying on ball out there. Jack [Cahalane] came on and won some vital ball. James Murray, a young fella of 19, came on and won some crucial ball. That is what you are looking for - impact off the bench. 15 alone won't win any game for you.” 

That they were in a position to reel in Kanturk in the final quarter was almost the exclusive doing of Shane Hurley. The Barrs No.1 produced three outstanding saves, the last of which came less than two minutes before Twomey’s green flag.

“Shane does more work than any of the players at training. He is always the first there and always doing extras afterwards. Kudos to him. It starts with him and he is excellent.

“We are delighted to be back in our first final in four years,” continued Twomey, who is hurling-only in 2026 after picking up a first county football medal last October.

“It was kind of looking a bit iffy there at times, but thankfully, we ground it out.”