[1] After beginning his clerical studies at University College Cork in 1964, Barry immediately began a four-year association with the senior hurling team.
[2] In his early playing days he was a goalkeeper and won two East Cork minor hurling titles in that position in 1960 and 1961 before spending his last two years in the grade as a forward.
Barry spent a number of years playing junior and intermediate hurling with Sarsfields before becoming eligible to line out at senior level with University College Cork in 1965.
Barry joined the Bride Rovers club after it was reformed in 1964 and was allowed to play on the junior team while simultaneously lining out with University College Cork.
[5] Success in the intermediate grade earned Barry a call-up to the Cork senior hurling team and he made his championship debut in a draw with Clare in the opening round of the 1966 Munster SHC.
[10] His ordination to the priesthood at Easter 1971 effectively brought an end to his playing career and he last lined out for Cork in a tournament game against Limerick later that same year.
A return to his missionary work in Africa resulted in him missing the club's subsequent defeat of Freemount in the 1998 Cork JAHC final.