13-man Bishopstown hold out against Newmarket in SAFC thriller
Bishopstown's Liam Hogan celebrates his goal against Newmarket, during their Senior AFC clash in Mourneabbey. Picture: David Keane.
As far as championship games go, you won’t get much better than this Senior A football clash in Mourneabbey. Four yellow cards, two black and one red, a two-point margin.
After leading throughout the entire first half, Bishopstown struggled on the resumption, and Newmarket hit six without reply, putting them 0-11 to 1-4 in front.
In the 44th minute, the Town turned the game on its head.
A superb kick pass inside from Michael Nunan found Patrick Casey, and he handpassed it across goal to Kevin Murphy, who palmed it into the net.
One point game.
Tempers had already flared several times on the sideline, and when that transposed to the pitch, Newmarket’s Cathal Browne was shown a black card just 20 seconds after the goal.
Still Newmarket looked for the goal that eluded them, and Cork U20 captain Hugh O’Connor forced a turnover and surged forward.
The only thing between O’Connor and finding the back of the net was the experienced Diarmuid Lester, and he drew a brilliant charging foul, his second of the game.
Conor Dunne scored from a mark, while a fisted effort from Simon Collins put Bishopstown back in front for the first time since the 33rd minute. 2-6 to 0-11, 10 minutes to go.
The Town eventually made it 1-4 without reply, but Aiden Browne replied with a crucial score for the north Cork side to bring the gap down to two, their first point in 16 minutes.
Two minutes left.
Goalscorer Kevin Murphy saw black on 60, while veteran Paul Honohan was dealt his second yellow a minute later. Despite being down to 13, the Town survived. They shut the gates on their opponents, who could only shoot from range.
Newmarket did that twice, but both shots were wide and Bishopstown were victorious.
Newmarket’s urgency in the third quarter came down to O’Connor and substitute Ryan O’Keeffe, who was back from injury. They accounted for five of their six scores.
A thrilling first half rampant with championship intensity, it had a bit of everything.
Paul Honohan was fouled eight minutes in for a penalty that was converted by Liam Hogan. It was an excellent strike to the goalkeeper’s left. Josh O’Keeffe got a touch, but he couldn’t keep it out.
An excellent long kickout from Colm O’Driscoll with the wind found Kieran McFadden, and his Crossfield pass to Nunan set him up for a goal chance, but there was too much power on his strike and it went over the crossbar. They led 1-2 to 0-1.
Hugh O’Connor got Newmarket firing as they hit three on the bounce, as he hit two before Barry O’Connor got one, 1-2 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.
Patrick Casey and Michael Murphy impressed defensively for the Town, and Dunne’s second effort put them two in front again, as the pushing and shoving commenced between the two dugouts.
O’Driscoll produced the first of two stunning saves for the city side, this one to deny O’Connor from close range, and the Town would hold onto that lead until the interval, but there were many more twists and turns to come.
C Dunne 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 m), L Hogan, K Murphy 1-0 each, M Nunan, S Collins, K McFadden 0-1 each.
H O’Connor 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 45), R O’Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 f), B O’Connor, D Cottrell, P Allen, A Browne 0-1 each.
C O’Driscoll; P Casey, M Murphy, L Hogan; K Murphy, E Byrne, J Murphy; C Dunne, S Sheridan; D Holland, D Lester, M Nunan; B Clifford (Cpt), P Honohan, K McFadden.
B McCarthy for J Murphy (15, inj), S Collins for Nunan (44), Nunan for Casey (60).
J O’Keeffe; B Daly, R Lynn, M Browne; A Browne, P Allen (Cpt), P Browne; M Cottrell, C Browne; D O’Keeffe, H O’Connor, C O’Keeffe; A Ryan, B O’Connor, D Cottrell.
R O’Keeffe for D O’Keeffe (HT), T Ryan for C O’Keeffe (40), D Hannon for Daly (53), D Norton for P Browne (55), D O’Keeffe for D Cottrell (59).
James Bermingham (Bride Rovers)
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