Cork hurling talking points: The Echo Sport Podcast team pick the club Hurler of the Week 

Barry O'Mahony and Denis Hurley join Éamonn Murphy to reflect on the weekend hurling action, which included a huge upset as Fr O'Neills beat St Finbarr's, a Blarney versus Courceys classic and some huge displays from the Watergrasshill, Na Piarsaigh, Bride Rovers and Erin's Own.

Plus we preview the Muskerry-Imokilly and Duhallow-Muskerry Premier Senior divisional finals. 

You can find us every week on Echoline.ie/podcast and all the major podcast platforms.

CLUB HURLER OF THE WEEK

There was no shortage of contenders for our Hurler of the Week, from sharpshooters like Shane Barrett, Liam O'Shea, Ger Collins and Daniel Hogan to man-marker supreme Ger Millerick.

Barrett was in deadly form for Blarney, flashing over 0-11, 0-6 from play, in a great tussle with Courcey Rovers, which sent them through to the knockout stages of the SAHC with a game to spare. 

Ger Collins, former Cork sub keeper also had six from play, helped Ballinhassig get their season on track to beating Ballymartle and if he shone up front, his older brother Patrick bombed over 1-2, 1-1 from puck-outs, highlighting his booming deliveries.

Shane Irwin was the six-point man for Erin's Own, coming up with vital points in the last quarter especially, as they beat Charleville.

In a similar vein, Liam O'Shea contributed handsomely to a nine-goal shootout as Lisgoold gunned down Cloughduv in the IAHC, hitting 2-14. Daniel Hogan's 0-7 from play, along with his metronomic free-taking, ensured Sars staved off Newtown's best efforts to cause a Premier Senior upset.

The marquee men for O'Neills though deserved all the plaudits after this weekend, Declan Dalton and Ger Millerick showing their inter-county hurling class but also their leadership against the Barrs, especially in the closing stages. 

Dalton nailed a monster point over his shoulder but Millerick's ability to limit his Cork comrade Brian Hayes' contribution and also break out with possession under pressure, earned him the plaudits.

BARRS OUT

Midleton was packed for Fr O'Neills showdown with the Blues, where the absence of Ethan Twomey, Conor Cahalane and Billy Hennessy opened the door for the underdogs. Still, having hit as many wides as points with the wind in the first half, while Billy Dunne clipped the post with a goal chance, left them up against it on the restart, especially when Kevin O'Sullivan was red-carded.

However, their Cork hurlers shone while Daniel Harrington was immense at centre-back. It meant the 2022 county champions couldn't make their extra man count. 

The East Cork outfit slammed over the last four points to leave the Barrs on the brink of elimination, which was confirmed by Blackrock's victory on Sunday over Newcestown.

PERSPECTIVE

Hurling means everything to the people of Cork but the postponement of Midleton-Kanturk due to a medical emergency in the crowd kept everyone grounded. 

News of the unexpected death of Castletownbere goalkeeper Dave Fenton also came as a shock over the weekend, while last week Ballincollig GAA mourned the sudden passing of club stalwart Frank Lee, whose grandsons Conor and Darragh are key members of the minor squad.