St Finbarr's and Shandrum must do it again in Rebel Óg Premier 2 Minor Hurling final

St Finbarr’s 0-17 Newtownshandrum 0-17 

A magical point four minutes into added time from James Murray ensured the Barrs and Shandrum will meet again in the Rebel Óg Premier 2 MHC final following an epic game at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday.

Shandrum looked to be heading for the title before Murray leaped and flicked the ball onto his sliotar before splitting the posts from 60 yards, bringing his tally to 0-5 from play from out the field. The point was so spectacular it would have graced any pitch in this country.

The shooting was wayward in the opening three possessions with four wides (two each) as the tension seemed to be affecting both sides. Finally, Ben Jordan Reidy ended the drought in the fourth minute with Eoin Malone levelling proceedings two minutes later.

The striking of Christopher Dunne kept the north Cork side in control and when he landed his third point in the 14th minute it edged his side ahead by the minimum.

The Barrs were relying on the superb shooting of centre-back James Murray to keep them within striking distance but with Shandrum’s Johnny Murphy producing consecutive points they edged into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead in the 17th minute.

Indeed the Barrs should have raised the opening green flag a minute later when Sean Doolan blasted a shot towards goal only for the Shandrum keeper PJ Nonan to show tremendous agility in parrying it to safety.

When Ben Farrissey split the posts with eight minutes remaining to the interval it extended the Shandrum lead to three points but suddenly the Barrs responded to the wake-up call.

A couple of Ricky Barrett points got them back in the mix and they followed up with two more white flags that edged them ahead by the minimum in the closing minute.

The city side were now on top and when Sean Doolan was left through on goal he was fouled, and referee Diarmuid Kirwan had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Up stepped Conor O’Donoghue but his tame shot was easily parried to safety, but his side went in at the break commanding a 0-8 to 0-7 lead.

A superb Barrett point got the Barrs up and running in the 34th minute but Shandrum responded with consecutive points.

Suddenly the North Cork side showed their class and with Cork minor Johnny Murphy and Christopher Dunne driving them forward they surged into a three-point lead with ten minutes remaining.

Credit to the Barrs they kept battling and although it took the point of the season to level the game both teams will enjoy another day out to settle this championship.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: J Murray 0-5, R Barrett 0-3 (0-1 f), C O’Donoghue 0-3, E Malone, T Howe 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan, S Doolan 0-1 each.

Shandrum: C Dunne 0-7 (0-5 f), J Murphy 0-4, BJ Reidy 0-3, B Farrissey, T O’Neill, L Coughlan 0-1 each.

St FINBARR'S: J Cuddihy; E Hurley, T Egan, D Burke; D O’Kelly, J Murray, M Aherne; J Millard, C O’Donoghue; J Brady, A Philips, E Malone; S Doolan, R Barrett, C O’Sullivan.

Sub: T Howe for M Aherne (12 inj). 

SHANDRUM: PJ Noonan; J Morrissey, E Keating, E Sheedy; D Ryan, J Hogan, P O’Connor; C Finn, T O’Neill; C Dunne, J Murphy, L Coughlan; B O’Gorman, B Jordan-Reidy, B Farrissey.

Sub: J D Egan for B Farrissey (36).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg).