Cork hurling final player ratings: Coughlan and O'Leary shine for the Glen
Eoin O'Leary was electric for Glen ROvers in his side's Cork Premier SHC final victory over St Finbarr's. Pic: ©INPHO/David Ribeiro
Was vigilant all through, epitomised by his save from William Buckley in the closing seconds to deny the Barrs an equaliser. Also pulled off a fine double-save in the 40th minute. Generally distributed the ball well too.
Spent most of the day tagging William Buckley, a measure of how much trust Tomás Mulcahy and his management had in the pace and temperament of a non-county man – to date. The unfussy, efficient manner he went about restricting Buckley to 0-3 warrants consideration from Ben O’Connor and his selectors.
Immense, the kind of solid fullback every club in the country would want, tidily sweeping and showing for a world of ball.
A man of the match nominee and the game’s outstanding defender. Repeatedly was out in front to win the ball and then charged upfield to distribute excellently.
Made one of the most vital and grittiest plays of the game by somehow dispossessing Sam Cunningham bearing down on goal midway through the first half.
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Sacrificed his more swashbuckling attributes to manfully spoil and stymie Brian Hayes, repeatedly getting ball to ground for teammates to latch onto. The Glen would gladly have lived with keeping Hayes to three points for the day.
Took up Buckley for some minutes but mostly played zonally on the wing, and while Ben Cunningham was the outstanding player across that line of the field, Downey’s presence and guile were still telling.
Although Ethan Twomey finished with 0-5 from play to his name, Dunne was possibly the game’s outstanding contributor in midfield with three fine points of his own, a tidy pass to set up Eoin O’Leary’s first goal and general aggressive go-forward play.
While he didn’t get on as much ball as his midfield partner Dunne, McCarthy complemented him well, putting in a serious shift, tracking up and down the field.
Made a series of key plays, with his ability to win aerial ball and either lay off to others or take two points of his own, more than compensating for a fluffed goal chance 10 minutes from time.
Was carrying a leg injury which meant he wasn’t quite as impactful as he has been throughout this campaign, but still posed a constant danger with his driving runs, winning several frees and scoring a fine point of his own.
Probably was on the ball more than anyone in the game’s opening five minutes, helping set the tone for the Glen and the day ahead, before feeding the full-forward line directly became the Glen’s obvious policy.
Electric. The Barrs simply couldn’t live with him from the opening minute to the last. Missed a few chances in the opening quarter which meant the Glen’s dominance didn’t translate to the scoreboard, but would more than atone for that with how he brilliantly took his two goals in the second half.
A game in which he showed his fight as well as flair; as well as being unerring from frees and scoring 0-3 from play that included an outrageous effort from the touchline, his workrate was immense – O’Leary’s second goal started from a Horgan tackle and turnover out the field. 8
Another inside forward who tormented the Barrs with his capacity to get out in front and win ball. He didn’t always convert such possession and dominance into scores – a seventh minute goal chance came back off the crossbar – but his point on 53 minutes out by the touchline was one of the game’s finest scores.
Brian Moylan (37 mins), David Noonan (54 mins) and Adam O’Donovan (60) helped see it home for the Glen. 6
Produced a big save to deny Dean Brosnan in the 51st minute, and could do very little about the majors Eoin O’Leary put away. Puckouts good too across the hour.
Had started the first period so well and was excellent when the Barrs found themselves under early pressure. Got on plenty of possession too, but was caught badly for the two Glen goals which proved the difference.
Did well for the most part in his battle with former Cork teammate Patrick Horgan, though couldn’t stop him from chipping in with three from play.
Tasked with Simon Kennefick, Burns had his hands full as the Glen forward was lively in possession. Kennefick would have punished the Barrs further were it not for four misses, two off the post.
Did very well to keep Lee Quilligan quiet in the first period and the Glen forward was the first man to be withdrawn in the 37th minute. Had a couple of wides he would have been disappointed with, though.
The Barrs' best performer across the hour, undoubtedly. Was everywhere at centre-back and kept Micheál Mullins muzzled. Even though the Glen forward hit one point, Doolan’s thunderous first-half effort prior ensured Mullins impact was cancelled out. Was switched to O’Leary after the second goal.
Got on a few possessions and did well to try and find runners out on the flank for the Barrs. Wasn’t as influential in the second half.
Moved into midfield with James Murray dropping out of the starting team, Walsh never really found the influence, though that’s as much down to Glen Rovers making a strong middle-third impression as it is Walsh failing to do so. Withdrawn after 37 minutes.
Came to the fore late on for the second game in a row, and despite a trojan effort, Twomey couldn’t turn this one around for the Barrs. Finished with a very impressive five points from play. Has given Ben O’Connor food for thought this season.
Struggled to make any inroads in the first half which was so well controlled by the Glen’s defence. Only registered one shot, which went wide of the mark.
Finished with only one from play – due to another commanding display from Eoin Downey – but Cunningham showed up well. His work-rate was key out of possession and registered three assists, one of which was converted by Brian Hayes after he struck Cunningham’s dropping free with an overhead strike.
Had a few possessions early and was lively, but faded as the contest wore on. Was shortly withdrawn after Cian Walsh, with one wide to his name.
Lively in spurts and looked a decent threat for the Barrs. Finished the game with 0-2 but didn’t get on as many possessions as he would have liked. Again, that’s for how impressive the Glen were in defence.
Fought hard from start to finish but had a tough time with Rob Downey, who has been outstanding all season for the Glen. Couldn’t get motoring at the start but once he found rhythm, Hayes turned the game and helped the Barrs to an interval lead. The northsiders starved him of room again in the second period.
Had a good battle with Eoin Varian, and clipped a couple of decent scores. Didn’t enjoy as much room to manoeuvre as he did in the Barrs’ quarter-final win over Imokilly, but still managed 0-3.
Replaced Cian Walsh with just over 20 minutes to play and grabbed a point after he was set up by Ben Cunningham, but again struggled against a Glen defence that shut out the goal chances.
Jack Cahalane: Introduced in the 38th minute but wasn’t able to impose himself as much as he would have liked. Combined well with Twomey late on to assist the latter’s fifth, and again for when Twomey fired in the long ball that gave William Buckley half a chance at goal in the dying stages.
Came on in the 53rd minute and clipped a decent score on the hour mark, but couldn’t help the Barrs to find the goal they needed.
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