St Finbarr's 0-23 Glen Rovers 2-20

Patrick Horgan hit 0-11 as the Glen Rovers overcame St Finbarr's in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship final in front of 19,041 spectators at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Cork stalwart collected his third county medal and the club’s 28th title overall, their first since 2016.

The victory for Tomás Mulcahy and his players caps off a quick comeback for the Glen, just three years on from their first ever relegation from the top flight of the Cork Senior Hurling Championship.

History was written on Sunday with a team performance that saw Eoin O’Leary score two goals and a backline marshalled by Rob and Eoin Downey limit St. Finbarr’s to just one clear goal scoring chance.

The Barr’s will have their regrets as the club turns their focus to next weekend’s senior football final against Nemo Rangers, especially after going into the break leading 0-12 to 0-10.

The club were managed by All Ireland winning camogie manager Paudie Murray and they overturned a slow start to wedge in front at 0-12 to 0-10 at halftime.

The Glen were operating at a different level before that with five wides tallied in ten minutes, in addition to a rasping Simon Kennefick shot that rattled the crossbar at the City End.

The Barr’s slowly clawed their way back before hitting 0-04 to no score in the lead up to halftime.

Ben Cunningham raised two white flags during this stretch, Brian Hayes got one, and Sam Cunningham put the club two points up at the interval.

The Glen responded with a brace of Horgan frees on the restart and a goal chance that was hit wide by O’Leary.

The forward got into a similar position just seconds later and made no mistake to put his club in front at 1-12 to 0-12 in the 36th minute.

Ethan Twomey responded for St Finbarr’s with a well worked effort from play. O’Leary retaliated as the game opened up into a tit-for-tat game pattern where both clubs exchanged scores.

The Barr’s went to their bench in a bid to get something going, with their changes including the arrival of Aidan Barry and Jack Cahlane.

The Glen remained two points in front no matter what their southside rivals did. Then came the second goal in the 54th minute from a close range finish by O’Leary and the Northsiders went further in front at 2-18 to 0-19.

The Barr’s went for a goal late on which gave space in behind for the Glen to run into. That led to further scores, with the pick of the bunch an effort from Rhys Dunne.

St Finbarr’s only created one goal chance during their fanatic push for equalising scores and that was knocked away by an advancing Cathal Hickey.

The final whistle went a few minutes later to confirm the destination of the Seán Óg Murphy Cup for 2026.

Glen Rovers: Cathal Hickey; Liam Coughlan, Adam Lynch, Eoin Varian; Luke Horgan, Robert Downey, Eoin Downey; Rhys Dunne (0-03), Conor McCarthy; Lee Quilligan, Dean Brosnan (0-02), Michael Mullins (0-01); Simon Kennefick (0-01), Patrick Horgan (0-11, 8f), Eoin O’Leary (2-02).

Subs: Brian Moylan for Quilligan (36); Adam O’Donovan for Dunne (60).

St. Finbarr’s: Shane Hurley; Ciaran Doolan (0-01), Jamie Burns, Sean Daly; Conor Cahalane, Damien Calahane, Cian Walsh (0-01); Ethan Twomey (0-05), James Murray; John Wigginton Barrett, Ben Cunningham (0-06, 5f), Jack O’Kelly, William Buckley (0-03), Brian Hayes (0-03), Sam Cunningham (0-02).

Subs: Aidan Barry (0-01) for Walsh (36); Jack Cahlane for O’Kelly (37), Rickey Barrett (0-01) for Cunningham (52).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer)