Bishopstown super sub Colm Daly denies Éire Óg in Rebel Óg Minor Football cracker

Bishopstown 2-12 Éire Óg 2-10

A stunning added-time goal from substitute Colm Daly ensured Bishopstown were crowned Rebel Óg Premier 2 Minor Football champions for the first time after an enthralling final at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

The Ovens side will feel disappointed as they led this final up to the 55th minute, and by seven points late in the first half, but Bishopstown pounced coming down the stretch and got the crucial goal, much to the dismay of their brave opponents.

Éire Óg got off a cracking start in the third minute when a free-flowing move ended with a point attempt from Fintan O’Leary dropping into the net. Credit to Bishopstown, they refused to panic and three consecutive points closed the gap.

The Town had a great opportunity to take the lead a minute later but Kieran McFadden’s shot was brilliantly parried to safety by Éire Óg keeper Jack Forde.

Indeed both sides looked lively going forward and Bishopstown reduced the deficit to the minimum in the 16th minute following a classy Conor Dunne point.

Colm Quigley caused the Town defence all sorts of problems and when he kicked his fourth point in the 22nd minute Éire Óg stretched their lead to three points.

On the next possession, Bishopstown were caught napping as a superb through ball was met by Quigley who placed the ball under the keeper for a quality goal.

Two more unanswered points from Colm Quinn and Fintan O’Leary extended the Éire Óg lead to seven points 2-7 to 0-6 with a minute remaining as the momentum was certainly with the Ovens side.

Just when the Town needed inspiration, it came in the final possession of the half.

The talented Conor Dunne latched onto the ball outside the square before placing a superb shot to the corner of the net.

Trailing 2-7 to 1-6 Bishopstown needed inspiration on the restart and they got it courtesy of a superb Darragh O’Donovan point in the opening minute.

Quigley continued to pose Bishopstown’s defence problems and he duly punished them three minutes later with his sixth point.

As the half matured Bishopstown began winning key possession and the deficit was reduced to two points 2-9 to 1-10 in the 48th minute.

The Town kept battling in the last quarter and Daly made up for a glaring miss in the 51st minute when he punished Éire Óg at the death.

It was breathtaking!

Scorers for Bishopstown: C Dunne 1-4 (0-3 f), C Daly 1-0, J Wixted (f), D Murray, K McFadden, D Cuthbert, D O’Donovan, B McCarthy, K Murphy, D Clifford 0-1 each.

Éire Óg: C Quigley 1-6 (0-1 f), F O’Leary 1-2, E O’Shea, A Cooke 0-1 each.

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; P Casey, D Griffin, M Sheridan; D O’Donovan, D O’Connell, S Sheridan; B McCarthy, C Dunne; K Murphy, D Murray, P Doyle; D Cuthbert, K McFadden, J Wixted.

Subs: C O’Leary for D Murray (58)

ÉIRE ÓG: J Forde, C Malone, F O’Flynn, C Eagles; C Buckley, E Horgan, C Clifford; M O’Connor, M Murphy; A Cooke, D Healy, C Quigley; F O’Leary, E O’Shea, T O’Brien.

Subs: D Clifford (h-t), C O’Sullivan for T O’Brien (40), J Galvin for C Clifford (49), O McLoughlin for C Quigley (58).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).