Premier SFC: Steven Sherlock inspires St Finbarr's to six-point victory over Ballincollig

St Finbarr’s: 2-13 (2-2-9) 

Ballincollig: 1-10 (1-0-10) 

St Finbarr’s are back in the Cork Premier SFC final for the first time since 2022 after finishing strong to defeat Ballincollig at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

It will be an all-city clash in the decider, a repeat of three years ago, after Nemo Rangers got the better of Newcestown.

The Barrs graph has been trending in the right direction as this campaign has moved along and while this semi-final wasn’t pretty, they had enough quality to get over the line.

Brian Roche’s team failed to score from play in an opening 30 minutes that lacked everything you would associate with a championship outing.

While Ballincollig’s game plan worked well, the Barrs didn’t play to their strengths in a half where they were waiting for things to happen. They were glad to be trailing by just a point at the interval.

The Togher outfit came out a different animal for the new half inspired by Steven Sherlock, who scored 1-9 over the hour. His goal with 20 minutes to go gave the city team a lift.

They did lead by five points midway through the second half, but Ballincollig brought it back to parity, but just didn’t have enough to eke ahead again.

The Barrs upped the gears in the final quarter to prevail by six points.

Ballincollig, without their talisman Cian Dorgan due to injury, kicked the first two points through Ben O’Connell and Seán Kiely. The former’s effort could have very easily been a goal after Frank Down did well in the build-up.

St Finbarr’s struggled to get into their rhythm with a number of wides a frustration for them. It must be said that Ballincollig were defending excellently in what was a collective effort with Liam Jennings tasked with picking up Sherlock.

The Village were patient, composed and clinical with Luke Fahy bursting up the pitch to extend the Collig’s advantage.

After 15 minutes, St Finbarr’s finally registered a score when Sherlock tapped over a relatively easy free.

Fahy did extend his side’s lead out to three points, but a pair of Sherlock frees left St Finbarr’s a point adrift after 24 minutes, 0-4 to 0-3.

In an opening half that won’t live long in the memory bank, there would be no further scores. Both teams were guilty of some poor play and shooting, but Ballincollig led by the bare minimum at half-time, 0-4 to 0-3.

Ballincollig continued to frustrate their opposition in the early minutes of the new half and a Peter O’Neill white flag pushed the Muskerry men two points clear.

A Brian Hayes mark reduced the deficit down to one point after seconds earlier the heavily strapped Cork hurler saw his goal effort stopped by Ballincollig goalkeeper Jack Gibbons.

A majestic Sherlock two-pointer from play gave his team the lead for the first time after 35 minutes, quickly followed by a Conor Dennehy effort, 0-7 to 0-5.

A Ben O’Connell point did keep Ballincollig in touch, but the momentum was after swinging. A green flag was coming. An inspirational run from Sherlock saw the Cork footballer unleash a powerful shot low into the corner of the net as the Barrs pushed 1-7 to 0-6 clear after 40 minutes.

A Sherlock free extended his team’s lead, but Ballincollig got a lifeline with 14 minutes to go. Kiely’s 45 dropped short as David O’Leary tucked away his effort into the net, 1-8 to 1-6.

Podsie O’Mahony’s substitutions helped the Village get their second wind. Kiely and sub Dara Dorgan (free) drew the team in green and white level.

The game was in the melting pot with 10 minutes remaining, but the Barrs showed their class. A William Buckley point was followed by another Sherlock two-pointer from play.

After 55 minutes, St Finbarr’s got their second goal and the most crucial one when Hayes finished from close range as he used his height and stature to flick the ball into the net, 2-11 to 1-8.

Ballincollig did throw the kitchen sink at their opponents, but a green flag that they craved didn’t come.

The teams swapped the last four points as the Barrs progress to the final against Nemo.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 1-9 (2 2pt, 0-4 f), B Hayes 1-1 (0-1 m), W Buckley, L Hannigan, C Dennehy 0-1 each.

Ballincollig: D O’Leary 1-0, B O’Connell, S Kiely, L Fahy 0-2 each, D Dorgan (f), T O’Connell, S O’Neill, P O’Neill 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: D Newman; A O’Connor, S Ryan, D Quinn; B Hennessy, J Burns, C Dennehy; I Maguire, C Doolan; E Twomey, J Wigginton-Barrett, W Buckley; R Barrett, B Hayes, S Sherlock (c).

Subs: E McGreevy for J Wigginton-Barrett (39), C Myers-Murray for R Barrett (42), L Hannigan for E Twomey, E Dennehy for J Burns (both 52).

BALLINCOLLIG: J Gibbons; L Jennings, JP Murphy, S Murphy; L Fahy (c), F Down, D Desmond; P O’Neill, S Dore; H Ahearne, L O’Connell, S Kiely; B O’Connell, D O’Mahony, D O’Leary.

Subs: S O’Neill for H Ahearne (35), T O’Connell for S Murphy (44), D Dorgan for D Desmond (46).

Referee: James Regan (Lough Rovers).

· Before the game, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of former Ballincollig and Cork underage star Killian Lee, who died suddenly last Monday.