Goals crucial as Mallow defeat Bishopstown to reach Premier 1 minor football final
Bill Cahill, Bishopstown, tries to keep possession under pressure from Mallow in the Premier 1 Minor semi-final in the Mardyke. Picture: Larry Cummins
Mallow are through to the final of the Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC after a thrilling victory at the Mardyke.
Second-half goals from Cathal Mullins and Trevor Kiely decided it, and the North Cork club will play Ballincollig in the final.
A Bishopstown team that had Larry Tompkins and Brian Cuthbert on the sidelines will have regrets, as they led for the majority of the game.
Mallow’s Padraig Britton opened the scoring inside the first minute and his point from play was immediately cancelled out by Bill Cahill.
That was the start of a tit-for-tat period that saw the clubs level five times during the opening half-hour.
Gary Holland’s first gave Bishopstown the lead at 0-2 to 0-1 and Mullins tied things up from play.
That was followed by a converted Holland free and Andy Hourigan insured parity. Bishoptown then created two goal chances for Jack Tompkins and Neil Crowley and they were denied by a stern save from Devin Frey and mere inches.
A Ben O’Shea mark gave Mallow the lead for the first time Se Rian Clarke equalised, making it 0-4 apiece.
Bishopstown then went on a 0-4 to 0-2 run, with a Holland brace combing with white flags from Sean McBride and Cillian Murray. Aaron Murphy and Mullins got the scores for Malow and it was 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.
The game restarted with a Cahill double and Bishopstown led by four, and Hourigan and Gearoid Daly hit back for Mallow.
Murray’s second of the game and lone white flag by Neil Crowley put Bishopstown into what seemed to be a commanding position until Mullins goaled and it was 1-9 to 0-14.
A Cahill free made it a three-point game once again, and Mallow scored 1-1 in a blink of an eye to go in front for just the second time at 2-11 to 0-15.
O’Shea got the point from play and Kiely’s goal hit the back of the net with so much force that Stephen Murray had no chance to get to the ball.
Bishopstown needed to respond but the best they could do was a point from play by Holland. It wasn’t enough and Mallow dug in during three additional minutes to make sure they will play in the county final.
C Mullins 1-3, T Kiely 1-0, A Hourigan 0-3, B O’Shea 0-2 (0-1 m), P Britton, A Murphy, G Daly 0-1 each.
B Cahill (0-1 f), G Holland (0-1 f) 0-5 each, C Murray 0-2, S Rian Clarke, N Crowley, R McBride, J Tompkins 0-1 each.
D Frey; E Murphy, E Sheehan, P Murphy; E Walsh, G Daly, E Murphy; P Britton, J Roche; A Murphy, L Buckley, T Kiely; C Mullins, A Hourigan, B O’Shea.
J Murphy for E Murphy (HT).
S Murray; J O’Mahony, C Vaughan, R Lynch; H Wixted, O Foley, S Wiseman; S Rian Clarke, S McBride; C Caplice, J Tompkins, C Murray; B Cahill, G Holland, N Crowley.
C Galvin for McBride (49); H Grant for Rian Clarke (60).
Ciaran Murphy (Glanworth)
App?
