St Vincent’s 2-10 

Bishopstown 2-8 

THE Saints went marching on to the semi- final of the Sportsturf Solutions Seandun Junior A hurling championship following a hard-earned win over Bishopstown at Ballinlough on Tuesday night.

What a night it proved for the father and son St Vincent’s partnership of John Paul and Blake Murphy.

Blake had a terrific game finishing with eight points while father John Paul came off the bench to win crucial dirty ball when the game hung in the balance.

Conditions were equivalent to a dreary November wet night and that’s certainly didn’t help the standard of hurling.

In the opening quarter scores were a rarity with the free taking of Conor Luttrell keeping the Town in control.

Playing against the wind Vincent’s were forced to battle hard and when Blake Murphy struck over a monstrous point in the fifth minute the sides were level.

Bishopstown looked to be lacking firepower but Luttrell punished the Saints in the 26th minute with a superb goal that gave them a five-point lead.

In the closing minutes another Vincent’s stalwart Cian De Barra got on the end of a fabulous strike to billow the back of the net and three Blake Murphy points ensured they led at the break 1-7 to 1-6.

The second half was a dogfight but Bishopstown stunned Vincent’s with a Bert Lane goal just four minutes into the restart.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind Vincent’s responded with three Blake Murphy unanswered points.

The game was there for the taking and it was Vincent’s that sealed it following a cracking Jamie O’Donovan goal with eight minutes remaining.

The closing minutes were frantic as Bishopstown battled to get back in the game but Vincent’s held firm to book a last four berth.

It was a night for the Saints to savour as they continue in their quest to regain their former glory days of championship hurling.

Scorers for St Vincent’s: B Murphy 0-8 (0-4f,65), J O’Donovan 1-0, C De Barra 1-0, A O’Donoghue (f), C O’Neill (0-1 each).

Bishopstown: C Luttrell 1-7 (0-6f), B Lane 1-0, S Foley 0-1.

St Vincent’s: C Cahill; P O’Halloran, C Murphy, D Lockyer; A Sorensen, K Sorensen, R Duffy; A Harte, J O’Mahony; K Whitley, J O’Donovan, C O’Neill; A O’Donoghue, C Barry, B Murphy.

Subs: J P Murphy for K Whitley, K Mullen for P O’Halloran.

Bishopstown: J Hannon; S O’Rourke, B Spillane, B O’Neill; A Dunlea, B McConville, C Sexton; K Foley, S Foley; B Coffey, L Lordan, A O’Sullivan; C Luttrell, B Lane, K Barry.

Subs: C Walsh for K Barry, D Walsh for C Walsh (inj), B Donovan for A Dunlea.

Referee: Paul Delaney (Blackrock).