BEST BARR NONE

Elementary for Sherlock after late winner seals Cork SFC title

ST FINBARR’S claimed a second Bons Secours Hospital Cork football title in four years as Steven Sherlock landed the late winner against Clonakilty at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The game looked to be heading for a replay when Clonakilty’s Gearóid Barry scored a fine equaliser in the 63rd minute but St Finbarr’s responded as sub Eoghan Mcgreevey found Sherlock, who got his seventh point.

There was still time for Clonakilty to seal for a late, late equaliser but Cork goalkeeper Mark White, who made regular journeys upfield, had the distance but not the direction with a long-range effort. The city side had taken time to get going and trailed by 0-4 to 0-2 at the first water break. Clonakilty settled well, with Ross Mannix opening the scoring and the excellent Seán White set up Ben Ridgeway for a goal chance but John Kerins saved and Billy Hennessy cleared off the line.

Ian Maguire and Brian Hayes put the Barrs in front but Clon responded with points from Maurice Shanley, Seán Mcevoy and a Dara Ó Sé free.

Sherlock, who had scored 2-10 in the epic semi-final win over Castlehaven, got off the mark in the 22nd minute, with Denis O’brien levelling immediately after that.

Sherlock added two more and it was 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time.

They couldn’t shake Clon off though, and three superb Ó Sé frees, answered only by an O’brien point for the Barrs, meant it was 0-7 each by the 38th minute.

Once again, the Barrs reacted, with Maguire and Hayes setting up Sherlock for his fourth before the same player made it 0-9 to 0-7 with a free.

By the water break, Clon had brought it back to a point, 0-10 to 0-9, and Mcevoy levelled when action resumed before Ó Sé’s fifth put them in front.

The pendulum swung again as Barrs sub Cillian Myers Murray stuck a point from out the right and that was followed by a lead score from Down native Conor Mccrickard on 57.

Still Clonakilty refused to yield. Eoghan Daly’s delivery was won by Mcevoy and he set up Ó Sé to level for the fifth time.

With the game moving into injury time, Sherlock moved the Barrs back in front only for Barry to tie matters yet again, but Sherlock had the final say.