John Horgan on why a St Finbarr's and Glen Rovers county final is good for Cork hurling

When your past is littered with great achievement, that tradition can be a mighty ally for present and future generations of hurlers.

Between them, Glen Rovers and St Finbarr’s have 53 Cork titles, 27 for the Glen, 26 for the Barrs but their paths have not crossed in a final since 1988, 38 years since their last final collision.

That was prior to Sunday when both contested the two semi-finals at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Barrs facing the most talked-about club thus far in the championship, Kanturk and the Glen taking on Midleton.

The outcome, a Barrs-Glen final next Sunday week, the old order in Cork club hurling has been restored, now we have a final from yesteryear that will evoke a thousand memories from those halycon days.

Both semi-finals were no classics, but both were entertaining and when the last whistle sounded in each we had deserving winners. And both are in a far different place now than where they were on the opening day of the group stage of the competition, the Glen being beaten by the Rockies, the Barrs losing out to Midleton.

Under pressure

Immediately, there was extra pressure on both, the margin for further error was much reduced.

The Barrs did not impress at all in that opening group game but slowly but surely they grew into the business end of the campaign and this display was their standout performance of the season thus far.

There had to have been a cautious approach to this semi-final against a Kanturk team that had eliminated the Rockies and Sars from the equation and all neutrals were probably in the Kanturk corner.

And to be fair, they gave a fine account of themselves, giving as good as they got but in the minutes that mattered coming down the stretch it was the city team who shone the brightest.

Seven unanswered points after being two adrift was too much for Kanturk and it was their marquee names that stood tallest.

Ethan Twomey, in the number eight jersey, was outstanding, belting home a sublime goal, a game-defining score in many ways and he rifled home a few fine points into the bargain.

Not too long ago this fellow was very much in the mix for Cork but a dip in form decreed that he didn’t get as much game time as we would have wanted.

This performance will provide him with a fresh level of confidence and his work-rate alongside his scoring return was a major contributory factor in the final analysis.

When the Barrs required their big men to inspire they delivered, Brian Hayes with some wonderful points was a constant menace up front.

Ben Cunningham had a strong innings in a very strong finish that ultimately was the difference between the teams.

It would have to be said, a well-balanced overall display from the Barrs and it was at times a rearguard battle, being arrears on the scoreboard for quite a bit.

When Alan Walsh fired home a brilliant goal for Kanturk very early in the second-half proceedings big questions awaited the Barrs. Twomey cancelled out that goal and the sides were deadlocked after 50 minutes.

And when it mattered most it was a blue tide all the way with those seven big points that provided the answer to the puzzle.

That opening-day loss to Midleton seems a long time ago now, Paudie Murray’s management team deserve credit too, the entire group stage was no easy ride but as the season has aged they have become a reinvented unit.

Battle-hardened

They were the first team into the final, the big question that followed was could the Glen make it an all-city final?

Well, we all have the answer now, the Glen are marching strongly again, going in probably as underdogs they too did something similar to the ‘Barrs, finishing strongly to bag a very impressive win.

Just a short few years ago this great club endured its pitch-black hour, losing their status as a Premier Senior club on Leeside, a huge blow for one of the country’s most decorated clubs. But as they say, before every dawn comes the darkest hour and their stay in the lower grade was very short.

They were back among the elite in 12 short months and the upward trajectory has now carried them into a Premier Senior final.

They lost out to Midleton last season in the quarter-final but the tables were turned this time, as it transpired emphatically and again similar to the Barrs it was their more high-profile names that led the way.

Cork captain Rob Downey was majestic in defence, curbing the threat of Conor Lehane, particularly in the opening half and providing the light for the others.

The six starting forwards got on the scoresheet, the goals that mattered were delivered by Michael Mullins, the brace of them ultimately the difference.

Not for the first time and almost certainly not the last, Patrick Horgan was hugely influential from the placed ball and from open play.

In an extract from his new biography in last Saturday’s Irish Examiner he spoke of the last-gasp penalty that he fired home against Limerick which almost lifted the roof of both stands in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

He stood over another penalty yesterday in the dying embers of the game, but this time there was no green flag, a wide being registered.

It made little difference, however, he had already donated his major contribution and the Glen were home and hosed.

Dean Brosnan, another great Glen servant posted three big points, so too Simon Kennefick with a fine brace from Eoin O’Leary, all big scores to go alongside Hoggy’s tally of 11.

There had to be a huge amount of satisfaction in the Glen camp afterwards, they had taken the scalp of a Midleton team that were fancied in quite a few corners to travel the full distance.

Rusty

They had gone straight through to a semi-final as a result of securing maximum points at the group stage. As a result they hadn’t played for a month and there will be a school of thought that might say it made a difference.

That type of scenario is always a debate, the ring-rust thing coming into play.

But it is what it is now, the Barrs and the Glen have delivered the goods when their need was at its greatest.

In the hurling homes of Togher and Blackpool the build-up to the final will create a massive buzz, for those of us who can remember them going at it in the old Athletic Grounds it will bring back so much.

And let’s be honest, an all-city final between two iconic clubs is extra special.

Many will have formed their own opinion about the overall standard of the championship up to now but maybe the best is just around the corner.

The Barrs and the Glen in a county final, bring it on