Impressive Glen Rovers set up U21 showdown with St Finbarr's after big win over Bishopstown

Glen Rovers 2-22 Bishopstown 0-11

Holders Glen Rovers are back in the successive PharmaCare Seandún U21 A Hurling Championship decider, after dismissing the challenge of Bishopstown in their lopsided semi-final at MTU. 

Glen Rovers, who had Eoin O'Leary and Diarmuid Wall in sharp form up top and Cork All-Star defender Eoin Downey at centre-back, were without Stephen Lynam but still cruised into a meeting with St Finbarr’s. The city champions are then paired with either the Muskerry winners or Shandrum in the county semi-final, it's Imokilly versus Carrigdhoun or Carbery on the other side.

Glen were in control of proceedings territorially from the start, with their two first-half goals proving decisive. In the second half, Glen Rovers scored 11 points, including two frees, while Bishopstown got six points, with four coming from placed balls.

Glen Rovers raced into a three-point lead as Conor Martin got a point from play, followed by two frees by Diarmuid Wall. Bishopstown’s Brian McCarthy exchanged points from play with Martin. Wall slotted over three unanswered points for Glen Rovers, including a free to open up a six-point gap.

Rian Foley responded for Bishopstown before O’Leary got two points from play. He also drilled home the game’s opening goal from the edge of the Bishopstown square, midway through the opening half.

Bishopstown replied with Darragh O’Donovan’s first pointed free, but this was followed by Glen Rovers’ second goal from the corner of the Bishopstown square by Rhys Dunne. This left 12 points between the sides.

Kieran McFadden and O’Donovan responded with points from play for Bishopstown. Wall and Dunne added a point apiece from play for Glen Rovers, to leave their side leading 2-11 to 0-5 at the break.

Wall and Kieran Kelleher swapped points with O’Donovan and McFadden in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Glen Rovers added four unanswered points. Jack Kennefick and Dunne got one each while Wall and O’Leary both pointed a free apiece.

O’Donovan pointed his second free for Bishopstown, before Glen Rovers added four unanswered frees.

In the closing stages, O’Donovan converted three placed-balls for Bishopstown, while Cillian Crowley and O’Leary replied.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: Diarmuid Wall 0-10 (0-5 f), E O’Leary 1-4 (0-1 f), R Dunne 1-2, C Martin K Kelleher 0-2 each, J Kennefick, C Crowley 0-1 each.

Bishopstown: D O’Donovan 0-7 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), K McFadden 0-2, B McCarthy, R Foley 0-1 each.

GLEN ROVERS: B Heffernan; F O’Driscoll, E Varian, Z Lynch; Donnacha Wall, E Downey, D Coughlan; J Brosnan, C Martin; K Kelleher, R Dunne, Diarmuid Wall; J Kennefick, E O’Leary, C Egan.

Subs: C Crowley for Donnacha Wall (38) S Cronin for Brosnan (46), J Dorney for Diarmuid Wall (51), J Murphy for Downey, M Gayfer for Lynch (both 55).

BISHOPSTOWN: C O’Donoghue; F Stevens, D Daly, S Murphy; B McCarthy, C Dunne, S Sheridan; R Foley, K McFadden; D Murray, D O’Donovan, D O’Rourke; C Murray, C Caplice, M Scally.

Sub: A English for Scally (51).

Referee: Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).