Eoin O'Leary the goal hero as Glen Rovers are county champions again

Glen Rovers 2-20

St Finbarr’s 0-23

For the 28th time, Glen Rovers are the Cork hurling champions.

A pair of second-half goals from Eoin O’Leary were the difference as the Blackpool side beat St Finbarr’s in beautiful autumnal conditions before 19,041 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

Trailing by two points at half-time, the Glen seized control on the restart. A pair of Horgan frees, for fouls on O’Leary and fellow corner-forward Simon Kennefick, had them level – in between, O’Leary had flashed a goal opportunity wide from a tight angle but he and they would not have long to wait.

Luke Horgan’s pass up the line provided O’Leary with possession but there was still a lot to do as he worked his way in from the left, doing well to create space for himself before producing a batted finish. The Glen were to lead thereafter.

A what-if moment came in the 39th minute: William Buckley played a clever pass to Brian Hayes, whose shot was saved by Cathal Hickey before John Wigginton Barrett claimed the loose ball but the goalkeeper did brilliantly to deny him too.

While the Glen were able to stay in front, they lead remained within the one-to-three-point bracket until the 55th minute, when hardworking midfielder Rhys Dunne picked up possession in the left to see O’Leary in splendid isolation – two pucks of the ball later and the advantage was five.

The Barrs responded, with Ethan Twomey to the fore – his sixth point of the day left a goal in it with two of three minutes of added time having elapsed and it was his ball in that created the last levelling opportunity. William Buckley came out of the ruck with the ball but Hickey was quick of his line and the ball squired away, with half-hearted penalty claims given short shrift by Wayne King. Danger was averted and the final whistle brought joyous scenes.

Just three years after relegation from the top flight, the Glen are back on top of the tree.

The Glen had the better of the early exchanges but, while they forged a lead, they were wayward too often – five wides inside the opening minutes and nine in the first half as a whole.

That period also produced the game’s first goal chance as Rhys Dunne’s low delivery found its way through to Simon Kennefick, who was unlucky to see his shot come back off the crossbar, while Micheál Mullins’ driving run could have yielded something but Eoghan Finn defended well.

At the other end, the Barrs weren’t averse to some poor shooting of their own while Robert Downey had the upper hand in his battle with county team-mate Brian Hayes. Sam Cunningham did almost get on the end of a nice delivery from the impressive Ciarán Doolan but Glen captain Adam Lynch read the danger very well.

It was the older Cunningham brother whose point on 16 minutes cut the Glen lead to one, 0-5 to 0-4, but a pair from Horgan, one a free, gave the northsiders their biggest lead up to the then.

Hayes then made up for lost time with a pair of scores with his first two plays, first sling over from the right sideline and then brilliantly meeting a dropping Ben Cunningham free on the double.

A mini dust-up between the Barrs captain and the Downey brothers was soon defused and then Glen pulled away away again, good points from Mullins, Dean Brosnan and Horgan making it 0-9 to 0-6 by the 24th minute.

However, in the time that remained in the half, the Barrs were to double their tally, with just one point going the other way – Hayes with a fine effort as they levelled at 0-10 each, Ben Cunningham putting them ahead for the first time and then Hayes’s turnover leading to Sam Cunningham’s second and a 0-12 to 0-10 interval lead.

They could not hold the upper hand, however, and the Glen battled back.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan 0-11 (0-8f), E O’Leary 2-2, R Dunne 0-3, D Brosnan 0-2, M Mullins, S Kennefick 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: E Twomey, B Cunningham (0-5f) 0-6 each, B Hayes 0-3, W Buckley, S Cunningham 0-2 each, C Walsh, J Wigginton Barrett, R Barrett, C Doolan 0-1 each.

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; A Lynch, R Downey, E Varian; L Horgan, E Downey, L Coughlan; R Dunne, C McCarthy; D Brosnan, M Mullins, L Quilligan; S Kennefick, P Horgan, E O’Leary.

Subs: B Moylan for Quilligan (37).

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; S Daly, D Cahalane, J Burns; E Finn, C Doolan, C Cahalane; C Walsh, E Twomey; J Wigginton Barrett, B Cunningham, J O’Kelly; W Buckley, B Hayes, S Cunningham.

Subs: A Barry for Walsh (37), J Cahalane for O’Kelly (38), R Barrett for S Cunningham (53).

Referee: W King (Banteer).