Junior A Hurling: Douglas hit Bishopstown for eight goals at Ballinlough

Douglas 8-19 Bishopstown 1-11

Douglas are through to the knock-out stages of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Hurling Championship as they saw off the challenge of Bishopstown in their lopsided encounter at Ballinlough.

Douglas were in attack-mode throughout with seven of their goals coming in the opening half. Scoring opportunities from play were at a premium for Bishopstown, who were dependent on scores from placed balls by David O’Brien.

Despite hurling against a slight breeze in the opening half, Douglas were quick off the mark with goals from Fionán Barry and Daire Burke.

Douglas continued to have Bishopstown pinned back with points from play by Barry and Dylan Murphy, before O’Brien converted his first free for Bishopstown. Murphy and Burke each added further goals for Doulgas while O’Brien responded with his second pointed free for Bishopstown, to leave Douglas leading 4-5 to 0-2 midway through the opening half.

Colm Daly got Bishopstown’s only point from play of the opening half and O’Brien pointed his third free. Douglas replied when Barry set up Burke for their fifth goal in the 19th minute.

O’Brien slotted over his fourth free for Bishopstown before Stephen St Leger added two goals for Douglas, shortly before the break. This left the half-time scoreline reading 7-11 to 0-5 in favour of Douglas.

O’Brien pointed his fifth free for Bishopstown within two minutes of the restart before Douglas seized the initiative. Barry scored a point from play, followed by their first pointed free by Murphy.

Niall O’Hora set up Greg Lougheed for Bishopstown’s goal in the 35th minute, while Douglas replied instantly as Barry got their eighth goal.

Darragh Griffin got a point for Bishopstown, before Murphy replied with his second pointed free approaching the final quarter. Murphy slotted over three points from play for Douglas. Joe Hartnett and Cain Baldwin also added one each. O’Brien replied with three points for Bishopstown.

Scorers: Douglas: D Murphy 2-8 (0-2 f), F Barry 2-4, S St Leger 2-2, D Burke 2-0, C Lucas, D O’Callaghan, S O’Leary, C Baldwin, J Hartnett 0-1 each.

Bishopstown: D O’Brien 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), G Lougheed 1-0; C Daly, M McStay, Darragh Griffin 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: B Boyle; S O’Rourke, L McGrath, M O’Callaghan; S Henry Squires, C Lucy, S O’Leary; D O’Callaghan, S O’Donoghue; C Lucas, S Moylan, D Murphy; S St Leger, D Burke, F Barry.

Subs: J Hartnett for Burke, D Cuthbert for McGrath (both h-t), K Doyle for Moylan (44), C Baldwin for St Leger (49).

BISHOPSTOWN: S Murray; Daniel Griffin, C Sexton, S Wiseman; D O’Rourke; B McCarthy, A O’Sullivan; C Daly, M McStay; T Buckley, D O’Brien, G Lougheed; A English, N O’Hora, Darragh Griffin.

Subs: C Caplice for Buckley (h-t), B O’Donovan for O’Hora (40), I McCarthy for Sexton (44), D Valentine for Lougheed (46), A McCarthy for O’Sullivan (54).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillon’s).