Shandrum lift minor hurling title after seven-goal replay thriller with St Finbarr's
Jack Hogan, Shandrum, receives the cup from Michael O'Mahony, Rebel Óg, after beating St Finbarr's at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Larry Cummins
A storming second half saw Shandrum crowned Premier 2 Minor Hurling champions with a hard-earned win over St Finbarr’s after an absorbing replay at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.
A superb 1-10 contribution from Christopher Dunne was key to last year's runners-up lifting the cup, but it took a last-gasp save from goalkeeper PJ Noonan to deny the city side at the death.
The Barrs commanded a three-point interval lead, though the North Cork team were quickest from the blocks with a Dunne free but they did follow up with consecutive wides. The early Shandrum pressure was rewarded with a second Dunne point from play as the Barrs were struggling to get possession.
They needed inspiration quickly and they got it a minute later courtesy of a stunning Jack Brady white flag. However, they were lucky to avoid conceding in the 13th minute when Ben Jordan Reidy soloed through on goal but took the wrong option.
Shandrum were punished with a sucker punch goal in the 14th minute when a high ball into the square wasn’t dealt with and Cian O’Sullivan blasted the ball to the net. Credit to the Avondhu outfit, they responded in style and three consecutive points from Dunne (2) and Liam Coughlan restored their four-point lead.
Once again poor defending from Shandrum allowed the Barrs register their second goal. Captain Ricky Barrett made a telling move towards goal and despite his shot getting parried it fell into the path of O’Sullivan, who was hand to guide it to the net for his second goal.
In a replica of the first game between these sides the Barrs finished stronger but two Dunne points ensured the sides were level again, 2-4 to 0-10.
In the final minute before the break, the Barrs goal threat saw Conor O’Donoghue make a magnificent catch before striking an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net from an acute angle.
Trailing 3-4 to 0-10 at the break Shandrum needed to reproduce the hurling they showed in the first quarter and duly produced a glimpse of magic after 34 minutes. A superb solo run by Charlie Finn saw him assist a fine pass to Dunne who struck an unstoppable shot to the corner of the net.
In a rip-roaring start to this period, the Barrs responded with consecutive points from O’Donoghue but Shandrum struck back.
Johnny Murphy, who had a quiet first half by his standards, went on a rampaging run before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the Barrs keeper.
Shandrum were in the ascendancy now and two further points looked to have to put the game out of the Barrs' reach before a Sean Doolan goal reduced the deficit to two points.
The Togher side almost clinched it at the death with a blockbuster Doolan shot but sadly for them, they were denied by the heroics of Noonan.
C Dunne 1-10 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), B J Reidy 1-2 J Murphy 1-1, L Coughlan 0-2.
C O’Donoghue 1-8 (0-2 f, 0-1 65) C O’Sullivan 2-0, S Doolan 1-0, E Malone 0-2.
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, J D Egan.
B Farrissey for J D Egan (55).
J Cuddihy; E Hurley, T Egan, D Burke; D O'Kelly, J Murray, A Philips; J Millard, C O’Donoghue; J Brady, J O’Kelly, E Malone; S Doolan, R Barrett, C O’Sullivan.
Cathal McAllister (Aghada).
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