Bishopstown footballers impress against Mallow in U21 quarter-final

Bishopstown 0-13 Mallow 0-8 

Bishopstown are through to the Cork U21 A football semi-final as they saw off Mallow on a calm day in Mourneabbey.

In truth, the city side were much the better side in the crucial aspects of the game. They outscored the Avondhu side 0-9 to 0-2 from play, they had 11 more shots, and they were on top in kick-outs.

Added to that Bishopstown had five goal chances, none of them found the net somehow, down largely to a big display from Josh Harkin in the Mallow goal.

The Seandún winners had the better of the opening half, outscoring Mallow by 0-7 to 0-3 as well as missing two goal chances. Harry Wixted was a great attacking outlet for Town at wing back and it was he who popped up with the opening score. Mark Kelleher levelled it from a free for the Avondhu side to stay in touch.

Sam Sheridan of Town and Mark Tobin of Mallow traded scores while that was sandwiched by a Gary Holland shot saved by Harkin. The city team’s purple patch came from the ninth and 30th minute as they got 0-5 without reply.

Darragh O’Donovan was a real standout at corner-back for Town, potentially an option for Cork sides. He came up from defence to put over after a marauding run.

Conor Dunne got his first and second of the game from frees before Holland pointed his first, Town is cruise control. Dunne converted one from play as the Seandun side were 0-7 to 0-2 up going into first-half stoppage time.

Tobin converted a free to give Mallow something going into the dressing room before a mini brawl broke out just after the short whistle.

Amazingly, no cards were given.

Mallow needed to start well in the latter spell and did so as Tobin converted another two frees to reduce it to two. Great build-up play from Holland and Kieran McFadden created another goal chance but the former was foiled again by Harkin.

Tobin hit over another placed ball down the other end and suddenly, it was down to the minimum. Mallow could have gone two in front when Kelleher got beyond the Bishopstown defence but could only find the side net from his goal attempt.

Holland got Town’s first score in the second half on 44 minutes to give them a bit of breathing space and Dunne was accurate again from a free, three in it again. Dunne claimed a fantastic mark to put it out to four, but Tobin kept Mallow in contention.

Liam Walsh came on the run from midfield to point again for Mallow as they cut the gap ever so slightly.

Bill Cahill had a shot saved by Harkin, but Town were not going to be denied as they hit the last three through O’Donovan, Odhran Foley and McFadden.

A five-point win, thoroughly deserved as Town now face Agahda or Ballinora, who meet next weekend, in the semi-final.

Scorers for Bishopstown: C Dunne 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 m), D O’Donovan, G Holland 0-2 each, H Wixted, S Sheridan, K McFadden, O Foley 0-1.

Mallow: M Tobin 0-6 (0-5 f), M Kelleher 0-2 (0-1 f), L Walsh 0-1.

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; D O’Donovan, F Stevens (c), M Sheridan; O Foley, D Cuthbert, H Wixted; K Murphy, B McCarthy; S Sheridan, P Casey, C McGrath; G Holland, C Dunne, K McFadden.

Sub: B Cahill for C McGrath (41).

MALLOW: J Harkin; E Walsh, D O’Connor, P Britton; T Kiely, G Daly, S Copps (c); B Kingston, L Walsh; D O’Sullivan, M Tobin, K O’Connell; C Mullins, M Kelleher, R O’Sullivan.

Subs: A Murphy for K O’Connell (41), D Copps for R O’Sullivan (47), R McAuliffe for C Mullins (58), J Roche for D O’Sullivan (59).

Referee: J Bermingham (Bride Rovers).