Storied city rivals meet once more in county final
Between them, they have been crowned Cork County Senior Hurling champions 53 times; the Glen with 27 while the ‘Barr’s boast 26, yet on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 4pm, they will be meeting in a final for the first time since 1988.
Yes they have been numerous championship meetings in that period but it’s hard to believe it will be their first clash in the decider in 38 years.
Tomás Mulcahy was the Glen captain then on a day when the ‘Barr’s won and now of course he is the manager.
On the ‘Barrs team that day were Ger Cunningham and Tim Finn; now their sons Ben and Sam (Cunningham) and Eoghan (Finn) will feature.
There is something special about a ‘Barr’s v Glen final; it’s northside v southside, it’s traditional and it’s a throwback to the days of Mick Kennefick, JBM, Gerald and Charlie in blue, with Lynch, Ring, Jackie Daly, the Fitzgibbons and Johnny Buckley in the famed green black and yellow jerseys.
Yet when the group phase began, both lost their opener, Glen to 14 man Blackrock, Barr’s to Midleton, but it was not the end only the beginning and here they are now on hurling’s biggest day on Leeside. With 2 minutes left in their game with Kanturk, Glen trailed by 2 points then a vital intercept by Robert Downey saw Glen get a point and then 3 more to win by 2 and keep their season alive.
As for the ‘Barr’s they drew with Newcestown in their last game and were waiting on results elsewhere to confirm their QF place. Small margins can change a season.
Occasion
“It’s great we all aspire to be in the County Final and now that we are playing the ‘Barr’s, it makes it that bit more special and I know the supporters of both clubs will turn out in great numbers,” said Glen manager Tomás Mulcahy.
Similar sentiments were expressed by ‘Barr’s boss Paudie Murray. “Ah look the Cork hurling final is talked about all over the country and when it’s Barr’s and Glen, it goes up a notch or two.”
Key moments
“The win and more importantly the way we won it, in Castletownroche against - as we all now know - a very good Kanturk team, had we lost that day we were out,” as Tomás explained.
It gave the team belief for the subsequent wins over Fr O’Neill’s, Charleville in the QF and Midleton in the SF.
“Without a doubt, the lads took great confidence from that win and you could see in the games that followed, it gave them the belief that we were going in the right direction.”
As for the ‘Barr’s Paudie feels the win over Imokilly has put them in a good position. “We had good preparation for that game and won with a bit to spare and that stood to us when we got a real test in the semi-final from Kanturk but we finished that game strong which we had to.”
As a championship it has yet to take off. There has been a few exciting games notably once the group phase was over and the hope is that Sunday will deliver a cracking contest and with quality players on both sides, that could very well be the case.
Ethan Twomey is really looking forward to the final: “It’s what you train for all year and now that it is here, the excitement is building and with it being against Glen, that makes it extra special.”
Ethan has huge respect for Glen: “Of course with the tradition they bring and the players they have, we know we will have to be at our best to win, but the preparation has been good and now it comes down to performing on the day.”
Glen Rovers were last in the final in 2021 and it is all of 10 years, 2016, since the last time the cup crossed the Christy Ring Bridge and that is too long according to defender Liam Coughlan. “It is for a club that was built on winning counties, and hopefully we can change that on Sunday, but we know that it is not going to be easy against a very good ‘Barr’s team, but we are happy where we are and confident in our ability to get the job done.”
Key players
A look through both teams and at various stages of the championship big players have stood up, when the need was greatest.
Brian Hayes has been immense for the ‘Barr’s despite missing a couple of games with injury, but his presence at the edge of square has tormented several defenders.
Will Glen deploy Rob Downey to curtail him? Downey too has been class in every game, not far behind him is his brother Eoin rarely puts a foot wrong.
William Buckley has also been very effective - 0-22 is some return - and whoever is given the task of curtailing him will need to be at his best, especially given Buckley’s pace.
Ethan Twomey also scored a crucial goal in the semi-final - another key player in blue.
Patrick Horgan, no real surprise leads the Glen scoring with 1-43, but the full forward duo of Eoin O’Leary (3-11) and Simon Kennefick (2-12) have not been found wanting in that area, while the 2 goals Micheál Mullins scored were vital in the semi-final.
Ben Cunningham, Ciaran Doolan, Shane Hurley - top class saves against Kanturk - the Cahalanes and John Wiggington Barrett are big players in Paudie Murray’s outfit.
Glen have a nice mix of youth and experience with Lee Quilligan, Conor McCarthy and Eoghan Varian gelling neatly alongside Adam Lynch and Dean Brosnan.
Brian Moylan has been very effective when introduced and clipped over 2 neat points in the win over Charleville.
‘Barrs are chasing a unique treble; the camogie is won, the football is on Sunday week and there’s great motivation in their 150th year.
Incidentally the treble was achieved by Glen Rovers in hurling and camogie and St Nick’s in football in 1954.
It’s not an easy one to call; will it take extra-time or maybe another day out to decide? Will ‘Barr’s draw level with their great rivals or will Glen move two ahead?
The match ups could shape the outcome as will the depth and impact off the bench and for that, everything aside, I’m giving Glen the nod to win.
Wayne King takes charge and the match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Final
Ballincollig v Dungourney on Sunday at 2pm at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
With 15 minutes left in their semi-final, last year’s runners-up Ballincollig trailed Carrigaline by 8 points and looked to be heading out, but they produced a stunning fight back helped by the introduction of Brian Keating to win a cracker.
For Dungourney this is their 1st appearance in the final in what has been a remarkable journey in the last few years and they will savour the occasion in which they are clearly underdogs but are well capable of causing an upset.
Ballincollig went direct to the semi-final and that might have been a factor in their slow start against Carrigaline, but the manner of that win will give them confidence and the desire to atone for last year’s loss.
James Dwyer, Cian O’Driscoll, Danny Miskella, Darragh O’Mahony and ace marksman Steve Wills along with Keating delivered when the need was greatest for the Ronan Curran-trained side.
Dungourney came out best in a real thrilling quarter-final win over an experienced Aghabullogue side after extra-time and then held off a strong challenge from Valley Rovers in the semi-final.
Jack Leahy is their ace attacker while John Ahern, Dylan Healy, towering full-forward Cillian O’Callaghan, Paul Flynn and Jack Griffin have been immense for the Imokilly side even when matters were not exactly going their way - a sign of a good team.
Ballincollig are favourites to atone for last season’s disappointing loss and it’s a sign that they are going in the right direction that they are back in the final and they look just that bit better equipped to get over the line.
Shane Scanlon takes charge of this game which is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Seamus Harnedy
15 years after making his debut, the St Ita’s clubman has called time on his inter-county during which he was a warrior in the red jersey.
He leaves the scene without the coveted Celtic Cross, but with everything else: he won 4 Munster championships - including 1 as captain in 2018, an NHL winners medal in 2025 and a 3 time All-Star.
With Imokilly he won 4 county senior medals, 3 as captain and was a Fitzgibbon Cup winner with UCC.
Seamie also won an East Cork medal with St Ita’s who he continues to play with.
A top class player scoring 9-149 in 62 games with Cork, he leaves the stage he graced with distinction and was a pleasure to deal with at all times.
Enjoy the retirement and thanks for your courtesy at all times.