Bishopstown capture the Cork City Council Muirgheal MacSwiney Junior Camogie Cup beating St Finbarr's in the final

Bishopstown 2-10

St Finbarr’s 2-7

Bishopstown claimed the inaugural Cork City Council Muirgheal MacSwiney Junior Camogie Cup, as they defeated near neighbours St Finbarr’s in the decider at Ballinlough.

Scores from play in the opening half were at a premium as both sides resorted to defensive tactics, while St Finbarr's were held scoreless for the opening quarter. 

The second half was more open, as the Togher side got three points from play. Bishopstown, who were favoured by the elements in this period, got their second goal, which as to prove decisive, midway through the second half.

Julie Scally opened the scoring as she converted a 20-metre free for Bishopstown within three minutes of the throw-in.

Bishopstown continued to have St Finbarr’s pinned back as Aoife Bohan slotted over their first point from play and this was followed by Scally’s second point from a free.

Máire Ní Fhirgil tagged on a fourth point for Bishopstown, as wayward puck-out was proving to be costly for the Togher side.

Midway through the opening half, Caoimhe O’Donoghue won possession in the middle of the park for Bishopstown from a St Finbarr’s puck-out and she set up Ní Fhirgil for the game’s opening goal from the edge of the St Finbarr’s square. 

This left Bishopstown leading by 1-4 to 0-0.

The Togher side began to turn the screw and they opened their account in the 17th minute when Aoife Byrne converted a 45.

St Finbarr’s continued to have Bishopstown on the back foot as Byrne converted her first free and she moved the Togher side within two points of Bishopstown as he drilled home a goal from a 20-metre free.

Byrne slotted over her first point from play. 

She then put the Togher side in the driving seat for the first time in the contest, with her second goal from a 20-metre free.

Jennifer Ryle replied with a point for Bishopstown as St Finbarr’s led by 2-3 to 1-5 at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Bishopstown had the Togher side pinned back as Emily O’Donoghue converted a 45 and they regained the lead courtesy of a point from play by Scally.

Byrne tied the scores at ten points apiece with her second pointed free, but Emily O’Donoghue converted a free for Bishopstown. Ryle restored Bishopstown's four-point advantage with a goal following a melee outside the St Finbarr’s square.

The Togher side outscored Bishopstown three points to two in the closing stages.

Scorers for Bishopstown: M Ní Fhirgil, J Ryle 1-1 each; E O’Donoghue 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 45); J Scally 0-3 (0-1f); A Behan, L Lynch 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: A Byrne 2-4 (2-2f, 0-1 45); E Olden 0-2, L Murphy 0-1.

Bishopstown: X O’Driscoll; A Corcoran, C Broderick, S Walsh; L O’Callaghan, A Ahern, A Walsh; J Ryle, N Stephens; L Lynch, T Foley, J Scally; M Ní Fhirgil, A Bohan, O Ní Dhomhnaill.

Subs: C O’Donoghue for Walsh (temp, 13-16), for Broderick (18), E O’Donoghue for Foley (17), R Murphy for Ní Dhomhnaill (52).

St Finbarr’s: C Moore; C Sargent, S Daly, C Callanan; E Dillon, A O'Herlihy, L O’Donovan; L Murphy, A O’Connor; L McCarthy, E Olden, M Toomey; C O’Neill, R Myers, A Byrne.

Subs: M Allen for O’Neill (h/t), B Glass for McCarthy (39), C Harrington for Sargent (44).

Referee: John Horgan (Gleann na Laoi).