Inniscarra through to SAHC knockout phase after win over Bishopstown
Inniscarra's Frank Hegarty being tackled by Bishopstown's Liam O'Driscoll. Picture: Denis Boyle
Another workmanlike Cork SAHC victory for Inniscarra in Ballymah on Saturday.
Following their opening round success against Ballyhea, this time they just edged out a battling Bishopstown side who lost their opening round game to Castlelyons and are now needing a victory over Ballyhea to stay afloat.
Goals win games and two second-half strikes inside four minutes from big corner forward Pàdraig Holland worked the oracle for Inniscarra against a battling Bishopstown side who pushed them all the way to the line.
The first came in the 36th minute, a real beauty, when he blasted to the net after a great pass from wing back Brian Daly and the second just two minutes later, a scrambled effort which halted a good Bishopstown spell as they led 1-7 to 0-8 following another James Scally free and a fine effort from Brian Murray.
Inniscarra boss Pádraig Hughes was a happy camper afterwards.
“We got off to a poor start, Bishopstown were a bit better than us in the opening half but in the tricky conditions the lads adapted much better in the second half and Pàdraig’s double goal blast got us over the line. Bishopstown were well up for it but the two goals made all the difference.”
In the tricky windy conditions it was Bishopstown who had the better start with points from Cillian Murray, Conor Hegarty and Scally’s opening free but Inniscarra were well up for the contest and might well have had an early penalty.
With Cormac Dineen excellent in defence, well supported by Sean O’Donoghue and Sean Sheehan, two Joe Enright frees left just a point between the sides after the opening quarter, 0-3 to 0-2.
Scally soon stretched Towns lead with another free but they were hit with four in a row from two Enright frees, Frank Horgan and Cameron Lynch from play as Inniscarra took a grip on proceedings with some strong forceful play.
Brian Daly stretched that lead to three but a cracking Rian Foley 26th minute goal, following great work by Brian Murray and Colm O’Driscoll, had the sides level at the break 1-5 to 0-8, Bishopstown hitting 10 wides.
Bishopstown again started strongly and went two points clear until those two quick Holland goals knocked the wind out of their sails. Cameron Lynch also fired over a point as Inniscarra led 2-9 to 1-8 entering the final quarter.
Sub Niall Buckley stretched Inniscarra’s lead to five but Bishopstown were in no mood to surrender and came at the winners hard. Scally kept them in the hunt with some excellent free taking, eight in all, but with time running out and leading by just a point Holland struck again with a fine point and Inniscarra were deserving winners.
P. Holland 2-2 (0-1 f), J. Emright 0-5 f, C. Lynch 0-2, F. Horgan, B. Daly, N. Buckley 0-1 each.
J. Scally 0-8 f, R. Foley 1-0, C. Murray, C. Hegarty, C. O'Hora, B. Murray, D. Daly 0-1 each.
E. O’Neill; D. Keane, C. O’Leary, C. Dineen; S. Sheehan, S. O’Donoghue, B. Daly; C. Dineen; J. Enright, F. Horgan; J. Keane, M. Nagle, C. Lynch; D. Murphy, A. McCarthy, P. Holland.
N. Buckley for Nagle (h-t), T. Lyon’s for Enright (40), S. Murphy for Keane 51).
C. O’Donoghue; G. Murphy, D. Daly, M. Murphy; M. Scally, D. Quaid, D. Murray; C. Hegarty, B. Murray; C. Murray, L. O’Driscoll, C. O’Hora; R. Foley, J. Scaly, C. O’Driscoll.
D. Lester for Quaid (44), D. O’Donovan for O’Driscoll (44), B. Cahill for D. Murray (52).
Brian Murphy (Carrigtwohill).
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