Cronin and Murray prove key to Bishopstown hurlers' victory over UCC

Bishopstown 0-17 UCC 1-12

BISHOPSTOWN are through to the quarter-finals of the Cork SHC after they deservedly defeated UCC in front of a big crowd in Ballinlough.

Not for the first time the Town were indebted to Pa Cronin, who top-scored, while Thomas Murray chipped in with four points from play. The College had been in the last two semi-finals, which magnifies Bishopstown’s achievement and means they’ll be seeded in the draw for the last eight.

The two sides were level at 0-3 each at the end of the first quarter and they soon swapped a treble of scores apiece.

Two frees from Brian Verling and a Michael Devine effort edged UCC into the lead on three separate occasions but Bishoptown kept pegging them back with a brace of frees from Cronin and a Murray point.

The Town — led by Thomas Murray and former Cork star Cronin — finished the first half strongly as they grabbed five of the next seven points to see them leading at the interval by 0-11 to 0-8.

Brian Verling remained deadly from placed balls as he coolly fired over the bar from distance to put UCC within two points of the leaders.

But they would snatch the initiative themselves in 35th minute as the scored the game’s first goal thanks to Michael Devine, who rifled the sliotar into the roof of the net.

Bishopstown immediately made it 0-12 to 1-9 thanks to James Scally and that settled any nerves that may have been starting to show.

There was late drama as UCC had the chance to win it from a penalty but after Jamie O’Sullivan was dismissed for a second yellow, Jack Barry blazed the ball wide of the right post.

Scorers for Bishopstown: P Cronin 0-8 (0-5 f), T Murray 0-4, J Scally 0-2, B Murray, B O’Driscoll and C Hegarty 0-1 each.

UCC: M Devine 1-2, B Verling 0-5 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), M Kehoe 0-3, B Kelleher and C Terry 0-1 each.

BISHOPSTOWN: K O’Halloran; D Lester, B Murphy, C O’Driscoll;
B Murray, S O’Neill, J O’Sullivan; B O’Driscoll, C Hegarty; E Byrne, P Cronin, M Power; J Scally, S Lordan, T Murray.

Subs: B Walsh for E Byrne (46), C O’Hora for M Power (54).

UCC: J Barry (Castlelyons); A Creed (Fermoy), D Griffin (Carrigaline), E Clifford (Cloughduv); D O’Brien (St Ita’s), N O’Leary (Castlelyons), P O’Loughlin (Killmallock); T Millerick (Father O’Neills), A Casey (Ballyduff Upper); C Terry (Aghada), M Devine (Modelligo), P O’Brien (Mungret); B Kelleher (Carrigaline), M Kehoe (Kilsheelan/ Kilcash), B Verling (Cloughduv).

Subs: K Walsh (Ballincollig) for P O’Brien (h-t), D Moynihan (Mallow) for C Terry (41), S Casey (Ballyduff Upper) for N O’Leary (45).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).