St Finbarr's Division 1 FL title win is a warning to the rest
Adam Lyne, St Finbarr's, gets by Thomas Clancy, Clonakilty. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
There’ll be no complaints from a team lifting silverware this early in the season – least of all from St Finbarr’s, who have every reason to be satisfied with how 2025 has started.
The Togher side have impressed throughout their campaign, producing a series of high-level performances before overcoming Clonakilty in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League final. And they did so while integrating seven players from last year’s minor panel.
But the starting point, as ever, is Steven Sherlock.
He’s made brilliance feel routine at this point. Sherlock finished the campaign with a staggering 1-75 from six games – including an outrageous 0-18 haul in the final. It was a masterclass that dragged the Barrs back from the brink and ensured no extra-time heartbreak.
The only blemish on the Barrs’ record this year? A heavy early-season defeat to Clonakilty – a result that came without Sherlock in the side.
His absence from the Cork senior setup has been one of the year’s most debated talking points. Questions were rightly asked about the repeated decisions to leave him benched. Any remaining doubts about his value have now been emphatically answered.
Yes, the new rules have played to his strengths – particularly as a long-range marksman. But Sherlock’s impact goes beyond frees and 45s. He’s been relentless, clinical, and completely unmarkable at times. His form is one of the key reasons the Barrs are so well positioned heading into championship.
Cillian Myers Murray has been electric up front and has dovetailed superbly with Sherlock. Minor graduate Cian O’Sullivan has slotted in seamlessly and already made a scoring impact.
O’Sullivan is just one of seven players from last year’s minor crop to feature this season. Thomas Egan, Seán Kirby, Jack Brady, Matthew Ahern, Eoin Hurley and Ricky Barrett have all seen game time and shown promise.
Ahern has arguably stood out most among that group. He’s added serious pace to the wing-back line and offers a dynamic option in transition.
And that’s without mentioning their dual-code stars. Cork hurlers Brian Hayes, Ethan Twomey and William Buckley have all shown what they can offer with the big ball, with Hayes – a proven footballer – posing a major goal threat.
John Wigginton-Barrett has also impressed in both codes, a player that offers a real eye for goal and serious pace.
Then there’s Ian Maguire. The Cork senior is the heartbeat of this team and brings invaluable leadership. His link-up with Sherlock in the final was a joy to watch. While he didn’t register on the scoreboard himself, Maguire finished with at least three direct assists.
The Barrs aren’t just top-heavy. Defensively, they’re well stocked too. Billy Hennessy and Bill O’Connell are two standout operators, and Cork U20 Tomás O’Keeffe adds yet another high-level option at the back.
They’re perennial contenders for the county title, and this year they might be better equipped than ever. The rule changes favour front-foot, attacking football – and few clubs are as suited to that style as St Finbarr’s.
They’ll have to navigate a tough opening-round rematch with Clonakilty in the championship, but on the evidence of this league campaign, they look more than capable of going deep.
Steven Sherlock 1-75 (9 tp, 8 tpf, 0-18 f, 0-2 45), Cillian Myers Murray 1-26 (2 tpf, 4 tp, 0-6 f), Eoin McGreevy 1-10, Cian O'Sullivan 0-11 (1 tp, 0-1 f), William Buckley 1-6, John Wigginton Barrett 1-3 (1 tp), Bill O'Connell 0-5, Adam Lyne 1-0, Dylan Quinn 0-2, Thomas Egan 0-2, Enda Dennehy 0-2, Jack Brady 0-1, Matthew Ahern 0-1, Alan O'Connor 0-1, Fionn Crowley 0-1, Domhnall Conroy 0-1, Ciaran Doolan 0-1, AN Other 0-1.
Steven Sherlock, Cillian Myers Murray, Eoin McGreevy, Cian O'Sullivan, William Buckley, Adam Lyne, John Wigginton-Barrett, Bill O'Connell, Dylan Quinn, Thomas Egan, Enda Dennehy, Jack Brady, Matthew Ahern, Alan O'Connor, Ciarán Doolan, Darragh Newman, Eoin Hurley, Jamie Burns, Seán Kirby, Alan McCarthy, Luke Hannigan, Cathal Jordan, Cian Haines, Ricky Barrett, James Kennefick, Fionn Crowley, Eoghan Hallahan, Tomás O'Keeffe, Eoin Comyns, Colm Barrett, Conor Dennehy, Domhnall Conroy, Colin Lyons, Sam Ryan, Ian Maguire, Billy Hennessy.
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