Seánie Barry
Encyclopedia
Fr. Seánie Barry is a retired Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Rathcormac, UCC
and Bride Rovers
throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Barry was also a member of the Cork senior inter-county team throughout the 1960s.
title with the under-21 team following a 5-12 to 2-6 defeat of Limerick
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork play Wexford
in an interesting encounter. After an entertaining sixty minutes of hurling both sides finished level with Cork scoring 3-12 to Wexford’s 5-6. The replay took place shortly afterwards, however, both sides finished all square again with 4-9 apiece. A second replay had to be played to eventually find a winner. At the third time of asking Cork emerged victorious with a huge tally of 9-9 to 5-9. This victory gave Cork their first All-Ireland title in this grade and gave Barry a coveted All-Ireland
under-21 medal.
, their old tormentors in the provincial championship, and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford
. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork for the first time in ten years. It was Barry's first senior Munster
medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals Kilkenny
provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this two goals by Colm Sheehan
and a third from John O'Halloran
gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an Eddie Keher
inspired Kilkenny. It was Barry's first senior All-Ireland
medal.
The next few years proved difficult for Barry as he was on and off the team. In 1970 Cork were regarded as one of the best teams in the country and expectations were high. For the third year in-a-row Cork qualified for the Munster final where Tipperary provided the opposition. It was the first eighty minute final in the history of the provincial championship and a close affair developed. Barry came on as a substitute and at the final whistle Cork were the victors by 3-10 to 3-8 and he captured his second Munster title on the field of play. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Wexford were the opponents. That game broke all records with a huge 64-point score line. Cork's Eddie O'Brien
scored a hat-trick of goals to help his team to a 6-21 to 5-10 victory. Barry played no part in the victory, however, he was one of the substitutes It was McCarthy’s second All-Ireland medal.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
at various times with his local clubs Rathcormac, UCC
UCC GAA
UCC is a football and hurling club associated with University College Cork. UCC teams play in the Cork Senior Football Championship and Cork Senior Hurling Championship as well as the two main third-level competitions namely the Sigerson Cup in football and the Fitzgibbon Cup in hurling...
and Bride Rovers
Bride Rovers GAA
Bride Rovers GAA is a Gaelic games club located in the small villages of Rathcormac and Bartlemy in east County Cork, Republic of Ireland. The club fields Gaelic football and hurling teams in Cork GAA and Imokilly GAA divisional competitions.-History:...
throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Barry was also a member of the Cork senior inter-county team throughout the 1960s.
Minor & under-21
Barry first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork minor hurling team in the early 1960s. He lined out for Cork in this grade in 1963, however, his side was defeated in the early rounds of the championship. In 1964 Barry was a key member of both the Cork under-21 and intermediate hurling teams. Success was slow in coming but the big breakthrough for Cork and Barry came in 1966. That year he won a MunsterMunster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title with the under-21 team following a 5-12 to 2-6 defeat of Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Cork play Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in an interesting encounter. After an entertaining sixty minutes of hurling both sides finished level with Cork scoring 3-12 to Wexford’s 5-6. The replay took place shortly afterwards, however, both sides finished all square again with 4-9 apiece. A second replay had to be played to eventually find a winner. At the third time of asking Cork emerged victorious with a huge tally of 9-9 to 5-9. This victory gave Cork their first All-Ireland title in this grade and gave Barry a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
under-21 medal.
Senior
By this stage Barry was also making a name for himself as a member of the Cork senior team. The decade after the 1956 All-Ireland final appearance was a bleak period for Cork’s senior hurling team; however, in 1966 Barry was a key player on the half-forward line as Cork hurling returned to the big time. That year Cork avoided TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, their old tormentors in the provincial championship, and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork for the first time in ten years. It was Barry's first senior Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this two goals by Colm Sheehan
Colm Sheehan
Colm Sheehan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Éire Óg and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1968.-Club:...
and a third from John O'Halloran
John O'Halloran
John O'Halloran is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local clubs UCC and Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1963 until 1969.-Inter-county:...
gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an Eddie Keher
Eddie Keher
Edward Peter Keher , better known as Eddie Keher, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game....
inspired Kilkenny. It was Barry's first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
The next few years proved difficult for Barry as he was on and off the team. In 1970 Cork were regarded as one of the best teams in the country and expectations were high. For the third year in-a-row Cork qualified for the Munster final where Tipperary provided the opposition. It was the first eighty minute final in the history of the provincial championship and a close affair developed. Barry came on as a substitute and at the final whistle Cork were the victors by 3-10 to 3-8 and he captured his second Munster title on the field of play. Cork later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Wexford were the opponents. That game broke all records with a huge 64-point score line. Cork's Eddie O'Brien
Eddie O'Brien (hurler)
Eddie O'Brien is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Passage and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
scored a hat-trick of goals to help his team to a 6-21 to 5-10 victory. Barry played no part in the victory, however, he was one of the substitutes It was McCarthy’s second All-Ireland medal.