Thanks to Fr O'Neill's famous win over St Finbarr's they are close to the knockout stages

Fr O'Neills 0-18

St. Finbarr's 0-15

At the end, Fr O'Neill's loyal supporters flocked to the pitch at Clonmult Memorial Park in Midleton.

Co-manager Dave Colbert said it was like winning an East Cork title back in the day. He was certainly in a position to judge that as he looked like he had everyone from Ballymacoda, Ladysbridge, Garryvoe and Knockadoon patting him on the back.

A victory for Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC over 2022 champions St. Finbarr's, who are on the brink of elimination, was a treat in itself. While it did not necessarily guarantee a place in the knockout stages, it took a chain of events to prevent it.

But the manner of the triumph, when they were reduced to 14 players two minutes into the second half and ended up scoring four unanswered points, will ensure that this triumph is remembered. Former O'Neills player Ger O'Leary wrote many a song in his time and this song will surely provide the basis for more.

When Kevin O'Sullivan was sent off for an off-ball incident with Barrs' Andrew Casey – much to the chagrin of O'Neills' side – the score was 0-9. O'Neills had gone into half-time with a wind-assisted one-point lead, but Ben Cunningham had equalised.

In the circumstances, it was widely expected that the Barrs, who had lost their opening game to Blackrock, would continue to press, particularly after Cunningham scored a superb strike from the right and Fr O'Neills wasted a number of chances.

However, the Barrs – without Ethan Twomey, who joined Billy Hennessy and Conor Cahalane on the injury list – could not extend their lead. Declan Dalton's fifth point levelled the scores and after Paudie O'Sullivan had blocked a goal attempt from Barrs' Cathal Crowley, Paudie McMahon's beautiful aerial winner was followed by a foul which Dalton again converted.

Brian Hayes – who was being watched closely by his Cork colleague Ger Millerick throughout – did well to help William Buckley level again, but the Barrs never looked like a team with an extra player and although they created chances they were unable to capitalise on them – they had a run of seven missed shots to a scoreless one from their opponents.

John Millerick, a newcomer to the O'Neills' attack from start to finish, won a free kick after three quarters to bring Dalton down to 0-12 to 0-11, with McMahon then adding a superb finish.

But the O'Neills faithful still couldn't dream of it, not when Ben Cunningham and Buckley equalised for the Barrs and Cunningham then scored his eighth goal – 0-15 to 0-14 with five minutes on the clock.

Amazingly, that was the Barrs' last point as the O'Neills' defence, in which Dan Harrington shone, stopped everything. Dalton increased the lead to 0-15 from distance after Ger Millerick was fouled and Joe Millerick, a reliable foil for McMahon in midfield, put them back in front in the 57th minute. Dalton equalised with another free kick with the number 10 on his back and after Cunningham had missed a Barrs free kick, Dalton built a three-point lead with a wonderful try as the clock ticked down towards the red zone.

The Barrs needed a goal – and almost got it. Eoin Keane dropped a free kick which Hayes saved well before passing to Pádraig Buggy who in turn found substitute Jack O'Kelly, whose shot went just wide.

Their tenth missed shot of the second half, their 16th overall, was the last of the action, and David Copps' final whistle brought scenes of pure joy to the band clad in green and red.

Few could have predicted such a result when they were 6-0 to 2-0 down in the first half despite having the elements on their side. Billy Dunne was unlucky though when a goal-scoring opportunity rebounded off the post and as the half wore on Fr O'Neills began to gain the upper hand.

While Buckley put the Barrs ahead 0-7 to 0-4 in the 15th, O'Neills were ahead with four straight hits – two from Dalton, one each from Dunne and Jason Hankard – but with a number of misses that was increasing at a worrying rate in contrast to the Barrs' shooting efficiency.

Jack Cahalane equalised in the 28th minute and a Dalton free kick put O'Neills back in front, but as time ran out O'Sullivan had to make a good save to save a Cahalane shot.

Even then, a lead of 0-9 to 0-8 didn't seem like much. But Fr O'Neills refused to give in.

Goalscorers for Fr O'Neills: D Dalton 0-11 (0-9 f, 0-1 sl), B Dunne, K O'Sullivan 0-2 each, J Hankard, Joe Millerick, P McMahon 0-1 each.

St. Finbarr: B Cunningham 0:8 (0:5 f), W Buckley 0:4, J Cahalane 0:1 f.

FR O’NEILLS: P O'Sullivan; G Millerick, E Motherway, M Millerick; C O'Connor, D Harrington, M O'Keeffe; K O'Sullivan, Joe Millerick; P McMahon, D Dalton, J Hankard; C Broderick, B Dunne, John Millerick.

Under: R Cullinane for Motherway (52, injured).

ST. FINBARR’S: S. Hurley; C Crowley, C Walsh, C Doolan; E. Keane, J. Burns, D. Cahalane; J. Wigginton-Barrett, A. Casey; B. Cunningham, S. Cunningham, J. Cahalane; W. Buckley, P. Buggy, B. Hayes.

Submarines: C O'Connor for B Cunningham (9-10, temporary), J O'Kelly for Crowley (52).

Referee: D Copps (Ballyhea).