Steven Sherlock played a pivotal role in St Finbarr's dramatic late win over Clonmel Commercials in the Munster Club Championship quarter-final.
Sherlock finished with three white flags and three orange flags in Clonmel, where a broken scoreboard forced officials to rely on a whiteboard and tannoy announcements to keep fans informed of the score. His name was called often in the opening stages.
The Cork champions eventually pulled three points clear, thanks to a crucial two-point score from Sherlock, though Clonmel kept responding in tough, rain-soaked conditions.
"That was a battle from every single person that went on to the pitch," Sherlock told RTÉ Sport.
"It was nip and tuck the whole way, at the end of the day there was only a kick of a ball in it at the end. But look, huge character to both teams and absolute dogged conditions there and we're just so happy to come away with such a result."
Momentum swung after Finbarr’s fast start when Cian Smith struck a tidy left-footed finish for the home side. Sherlock admits they were punished but knows more tests lie ahead.
"I suppose if you're not on it, a team will punish you and every team that we play now from here on in is a county champion. Look, we're under no illusions coming up here today that it wasn't going to be an absolute dogfight, and that's what it was."
The closing stages were frantic, with Barrs hitting the last four points. Sherlock curled over two frees, including one advanced for indiscipline, a moment he had prepared for.
"I think in these conditions, if you back yourself, you have to go for it because they're worth their weight in gold," he said.
"Since the new rules came in, I've done an awful lot of practice with them, and practice is for days like today. So straight away when I saw it, it's a no-brainer for me to straight take it. Whenever you get a two-pointer it's going to be crucial because it's a big lift for the team."
Next up is Clare champions Éire Óg Ennis in a week’s time, and Sherlock says recovery starts immediately.
"Straight to recovery. So this is all part and parcel of the Munster Championship. It's tough on the legs, it's tough on the body.
"There's no place you'd rather be. This is where you want to be at the end of every year... we'll give it a right rattle."
Sherlock will rejoin the Cork panel in 2026 after a year focused solely on club duties. He admits the new rules helped sway his decision, but for now, his eyes are firmly on Barrs.
"They're brilliant. I don't think anybody's not enjoying them. I suppose for the whole year, my emphasis was really on the club. It still kind of is, because of where we are at the moment, and once that finishes, it'll turn to inter-county."
