 A spell in hospital cost him his place on the team, however, he became Cork's first-choice goalkeeper for the 1963 Munster Championship and made his debut on 26 May 1963 in a 4-15 to 2-11 defeat of Clare.The following year, Barry lined out in his first Munster final, however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 3-13 to 1-05 defeat by Tipperary.After being dropped from the starting fifteen in favour of Finbarr O'Neill midway through the 1965 Munster Championship, Barry was reinstated as first-choice goalkeeper the following year when O'Neill was forced off the team as a result of severe side effects after a vaccination.