SAFC: Carrigaline withstand Bishopstown fightback to reach semi-finals 

Carrigaline: 1-13 

Bishopstown: 1-11 

Carrigaline’s quest to make an immediate return to the top-flight of Cork football is still on after defeating Bishopstown at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

This quarter-final encounter in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC only caught fire in the last quarter when Bishopstown stormed back from eight points down to go within two points of their opposition, but Michael Meaney’s side held on and will now face Kanturk in the semi-final. The Carrigdhoun side didn’t produce their best football here, but they did do the heavy lifting in the first half as they led by five points at the break. The second half display would be a tad concerning for them.

This latest win was achieved without the services of Cork footballer Brian O’Driscoll, who didn't feature due to injury.

Carrigaline have now reached the semi-final post in football for the first time since 2015 when they went on to win the PIFC title. Their hurlers are also in the last four of the PIHC as the double remains alive.

A youthful Bishopstown team were competitive throughout, but lacked that quality and experience to really trouble their opposition in the closing stages. They have plenty to build on for next season though. 

Carrigaline hit the first score after two minutes through a Kieran McCarthy point, but a minute later, the Carrigaline defence was split open when Michael Nunan did great work to set up Paul Honohan but the latter’s palmed effort was saved brilliantly by Carrigaline goalkeeper Seán Mellett.

That didn’t inspire Bishopstown, as their opposition controlled matters. Three unanswered points from Carrigaline gave them a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 11 minutes.

A long-range point from Darragh O’Connor got the Town off the mark after 12 minutes, but it was Carrigaline who were in the ascendancy as they kicked three of the next four points. The last of the scores was worth the admission alone when Carrigaline defender Ian Sheerin came up the pitch to slot over an outstanding point.

A pair of Conor Dunne frees did briefly keep Bishopstown in touch with six minutes to the break. The sides traded points before white flags from Niall Coakley (free) and Jack McCarthy gave their side a 0-10 to 0-5 advantage at half-time.

Bishopstown suffered a huge setback three minutes into the new half when they conceded a sloppy goal from their point of view. It turned out to be crucial. The city side gave away the ball very cheaply on the half-way line and with the goalkeeper Colm O’Driscoll out of his goal, Niall Coakley chipped the netminder from 40 yards out as the ball ended up in the net. Bishopstown badly caught out as they tried to apply the press.

The game tipped along with Mark Driscoll’s Bishopstown showing character and quality as they hit three of the next four points with Michael Power, Dunne and the evergreen Paul Honohan all excelling, 1-11 to 0-8 with 13 minutes remaining. Carrigaline got their first score in 17 minutes when Niall Coakley converted a free, but the momentum was with the Town and they goaled after 53 minutes when Power was on the end of an excellent team move to finish to the net, 1-12 to 1-8.

The lively Dunne claimed a mark and converted and all of a sudden it was a one-score game. Bishopstown had a couple of great goal chances, but weren’t able to convert as Carrigaline were hanging on.

Another mark, this time from Brian Clifford, was slotted over to leave two points between the sides going into added time. An Eoghan Landers fisted effort settled the Carrig nerves.

McFadden pointed as the Town then went in search of a goal which would have won it. Carrigaline held on, but only just.

Scorers for Carrigaline: N Coakley 1-2 (0-2 f), E Desmond 0-4 (0-3 f), B Coakley 0-2, K Kavanagh, J McCarthy, K McCarthy, E Landers, I Sheerin 0-1 each.

Bishopstown: C Dunne 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 m), M Power 1-1, K McFadden 0-2, D O’Connor, B Clifford (m), N Gough 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: S Mellett; N Quirke, I Sheerin, D King; K Kavanagh, C O’Herlihy, J McCarthy; D Griffin, C Barry; K McCarthy, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Landers, N Coakley, E Desmond.

Subs: A Cohalan for C Barry (47), D Greene for D Griffin (55), C Barry for E Landers (61), C Dungan for S Mellett (65, inj).

BISHOPSTOWN: C O’Driscoll; L Hogan, E Byrne, M Murphy; K Murphy, M Power, N Gough; D O’Connor, J Murphy; B Clifford, S Collins, K McFadden; P Honohan, C Dunne, M Nunan.

Subs: D O’Donovan for J Murphy (h-t), P Casey for S Collins (43, inj), D Lester for L Hogan (47).

Referee: Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers).