Steven Sherlock reflects on 18-point haul and St Finbarr's victory over Clonakilty

At this point it’s no longer a surprise. It’s simply what Steven Sherlock does.

And yet, even when you expect it, watching him deliver remains as entertaining as ever. Few footballers in Cork are as enjoyable to watch, and Friday night was no exception as Sherlock led St Finbarr’s to a dramatic extra-time win over Clonakilty in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League final.

Sherlock finished with an astonishing 18 points out of the Barrs’ 1-20 tally. But true to form, he was quick to divert attention away from his own brilliance – and instead to the resilience of his teammates, as they dug deep in extra-time to defeat Clon.

“Obviously, I put a big emphasis on the kicking and as Roy Keane would say, that’s my job!” said Sherlock post-match. “Hopefully I can try and continue it as much as I can into the championship. Football is very enjoyable now at the moment, that makes all the difference too.

“It’s obviously pleasing, it was a great result, great to have some familiar faces back – Ian Maguire there now, Eoin Comyns, Billy Hennessy – lads that have been out for a while with inter-county duties, back from injury problems, like Sam Ryan there now for example.

“Lads that have been out for a number of months if not a year.

“It’s very pleasing, we’re slowly but surely starting to get fellas back on the pitch, and we’re delighted.” Despite his own heroics, Sherlock was quick to praise the opposition and the challenge Clonakilty posed — pointing out just how competitive things will be when they meet again in the championship.

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“You’ve to give Clon credit, they’re a fantastic side,” he said. “We took the eye off the ball and they punished us, I think any team that you’re playing in Division 1 and premier senior – you do that and you’re punished.

“Clon punished us, credit to Clon – I think they’ve come an awful long way in the last few years, they’re a fantastic side and we’re playing them in three weeks in championship. It’s going to be an even tougher battle.

“They absolutely wiped the floor with us below in Clonakilty during the league game, there was no kick of a ball between us here. I presume it’s going to be the exact same way in a number of weeks – we’ll prepare well for it, we’re looking forward to it. Roll on the championship.” 

Sherlock also acknowledged how fine the margins have become under the new rules, and how the introduction of two-point scores and more attacking freedom has transformed the game.

“You have to be 100% when you’re playing these games, you have to put your best foot forward. Thankfully, a lot of the lads did that today and we got over the line.

“[It’s] nip and tuck. No matter what, you have to be 100% against these oppositions. That’s football at the moment for you, you might be six, seven, eight, 10 points down – you can always find a way back with the two-pointers and goals.

“It’s great with football at the moment, if you were five or six points up before, you could park the bus and that would be it. It’s different now and it’s fantastic.

“They’re enjoyable, there’s no two ways about it. I think the lads in the Football Review Committee have done a fantastic job, they’ve made football extremely enjoyable to watch, but more importantly, extremely enjoyable to play.

“I think, even when I was growing up, you wanted to play on the front foot, playing fast football, taking scores – you want to be going at goal and taking your man on,” he explained. “Every forward does, every defender wants to defend one on one, football is kind of back to basics, and I just think it’s great for the game. No complaints.” 

Having stepped away from the Cork panel earlier in the year, Sherlock’s focus was with the club and the league. He scored 1-75 in just six league appearances.

That’s an average of 13 points per game.

He was sorely missed by Cork this year – but he too missed being around the group.

You would obviously, you’d miss playing the big games, you’d miss all the lads and everything like that.

“Look, I’m embarrassed now more to be totally honest, the championships only around the corner and that’s full priority for me at the moment.”