Bishopstown hold out to beat Aghabullogue in U21 B Hurling Championship final

Bishopstown 4-13 

Aghabullogue 1-17 

Once Bishopstown edged their noses in front, they never relinquished that advantage, though they were pushed to the very edge by a relentless Aghabullogue challenge in Sunday’s U21 B hurling final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G pitch.

The Town finished five clear, but their path to silverware was anything but comfortable.

Aghabullogue closed the first half strongly, outscoring Bishopstown by 1-4 to 0-1 in the closing exchanges to trim what had been a commanding deficit to just three at the break. When James Lane and James Foley struck the opening two points inside a minute of the restart, suddenly it was a one-point game and momentum had swung sharply.

But Bishopstown steadied themselves emphatically.

Cillian Murray had a shot saved that Aghabullogue goalkeeper Joseph Foley couldn’t gather control of, and both Neil Crowley and Bill McCarthy pounced, the latter getting the final touch as the ball trickled over the line, 3-8 to 1-10.

James Lane and James Foley (free) were on target again as Aghabullogue kept fighting. While Kieran McFadden and Darragh O’Donovan answered for the Town, Fergal Gillespie hit the next point to leave three between the teams.

Then, in the 48th minute, Bishopstown hit their fourth major, Joseph Foley saving Colum Daly’s shot but right into the path of Murray, who drove home to put them six clear.

Even then the danger wasn’t clear, Aghabullogue had the margin down to four with six minutes remaining as they closed in again, while Seán Cronin was forced to make a brilliant save to deny James Foley a green flag.

The Muskerry side would have the margin down to three heading towards added time after a Foley free, but Murray (free) and Daly were on target to stretch Bishopstown’s advantage to five.

Four additional minutes were stretch to over seven after Daly was shown a straight red for a challenge on James Lane.

Aghabullogue threw everything forward in search of the goals they needed and almost conceded a fifth at the death, only for a square-ball call to deny Daniel Murray his second green flag.

The foundations of Bishopstown’s victory were laid early. They struck twice for goals inside the opening 17 minutes – Bill McCarthy finishing a superb Conor Dunne delivery with real class, while Daniel Murray benefitted from a touch of fortune with a long-range effort that dropped in.

It was 2-6 to 0-4 at that stage, and when Cillian Murray converted a close-range free soon after, the Bishopstown lead stretched to nine.

A costly lull would follow, just one more point for Bishopstown came before the interval after a Murray free, while Aghabullogue surged back into contention.

Points from Lane and Foley preceded a crucial goal – a quick free worked between the pair – with Lane’s initial effort dropping short before Cronin spilled under pressure from Seán O’Sullivan, who poked home. That left the gap at three, 2-7 to 1-7 with a minute until the short whistle.

Another Murray free briefly steadied the Town, but an outstanding score from Foley over the shoulder just before the whistle ensured Aghabullogue went in only three adrift and full of belief.

They would get the margin down to one early in the second, but could never wrestle in front and paid the price for the concession of four goals.

Scorers for Bishopstown: C Murray 1-7 (0-7 f), Bill McCarthy 2-0, D Murray 1-0, K McFadden 0-2, D Griffin, N Crowley, D O’Donovan, C Daly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: James Foley 0-8 (0-5 f), J Lane 0-4, Odhran O’Connell 0-3 (0-1 f), S O’Sullivan 1-0, F Gillespie, C Gillespie 0-1 each.

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; S Young, S Sheridan, R Lynch; Brian McCarthy, D Daly, C Dunne; D O’Donovan, D Griffin; M Scally, D Murray, K McFadden; C Murray, Bill McCarthy, N Crowley.

Subs: C Caplice for Griffin (HT), M O’Mahony for Crowley, C Daly for Scally (both 42), H Grant for Brian McCarthy (58).

AGHABULLOGUE: Joseph Foley; D O’Leary, D O’Sullivan, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, Oisin O’Connell, C Thompson; F Gillespie, Odhran O’Connell; P O’Connell, James Foley, B Kendellan; S O’Sullivan, J Lane, A O’Sullivan.

Subs: S Bermingham for Kendellan (40), S Cummins for Thompson (51).

Referee: A Hyland (Kilworth)