When Passage moved their playing activities from the South-East to the City Division in 1952 it started the emergence of some top class under-age hurling talent. The first player to catch the eye of followers of under-age games in the City Division was John Barry.

John had a very strong hurling pedigree from the Barry’s of Carrigtwohill and Sars and was soon to become a star in his own right. Such was the impression he made at under-age level that he was selected on the Passage Intermediate hurling championship team while still only 15 years of age.

It was no surprise that John was selected on the Cork minor teams of 1958 and 1959. Unfortunately the Cork minor hurlers, like the seniors of that era, did not get out of Munster for a twelve year period and thus John did not achieve any success at that level.

He did however make history when in 1962 he became the first ever Passage player to be selected on a Cork senior hurling championship team. He was chosen at right corner-forward on the team that played a great Waterford team in Thurles. In the other corner-forward position on that team was none other than Christy Ring.

Cork narrowly lost that game but John was again selected in the team which played Clare in 1963. On this occasion he was selected at right-half forward and he scored a goal in the defeat of the Banner.

Shortly after this John suffered a back injury which finished his inter-county career and caused a major curtailment of his club playing activities. This was a big blow for the Passage club as at that time the emergence of some outstanding under-age talent meant the senior hurlers became serious contenders for county honours.

John’s ongoing injury problems meant a permanent retirement from hurling and football but it did not affect his place as one of the all-time greats of Passage hurling.