Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown surge late to beat Kilfinane in U19 B hurling semi-final
Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh's CJ Barrett shoots from Scoil Pól, Kilfinane's Jack Moloney at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown had to dig deep, and then deeper again, but a composed final-quarter surge carried them past Scoil Pól Kilfinane and into the Corn Thomáis Mhic Choilm (U19 B schools HC) final.
This was never comfortable at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G on Friday morning. Having been led by their opponents by one at the break, Kilfinane would reel CSN in on three occasions to level it, but, crucially, they were never able to pull in front in that latter act.
After a superb Bishopstown effort from David Enright in the 43rd minute – the Inniscarra minor outstanding throughout – Kilfinane’s Jack Moloney would tee up Cian McDonagh for the seventh equaliser, 0-12 apiece after 44 minutes.
And when the Limerick school needed to seize control, they were met with CSN’s best run yet.
CJ Barrett’s short free was scrappily retrieved by Jack Drinan – and he snapped over – before Barrett clipped over two more from placed balls.
Enright then turned creator, slipping Eli McKeown in for the fourth unanswered score, and suddenly Bishopstown had control – 0-16 to 0-12 with 11 minutes to play.
Kilfinane, to their credit, would not yield. Sean Flanagan’s pass brought Cathal Dennehy into range and he was on target. Dennehy then followed with a free to trim the margin back to two with seven to go.
Discipline was an issue all throughout for Spioraid Naoimh, cheap concessions keeping their opponents within touching distance, but they had the quality to steady themselves late.
Drinan drifted wide and curled over a beautiful score, then Barrett struck twice from play in the space of a minute. It pushed the lead to five and tilted the balance back to the Cork school.
There was one last Kilfinane push. Two Dennehy frees narrowed the gap again, and when he slipped Shane Philpott through late on, extra-time loomed.
But Charlie O’Donovan, outstanding throughout, produced yet another superb stop to preserve the clean sheet and finally shut the door.
It had been hard-earned. Kilfinane started sharply, Dennehy and McDonagh firing them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes. Barrett’s fine solo effort was CSN’s lone early response, but an improved spell followed, four points from four different scorers hauling them back in front, 0-5 to 0-4 after 21 minutes.
A couple of Dennehy frees would ensure the lead changed hands again, but, Callum Caplice, who had been resolute all morning at centre-back for CSN, fired over a terrific score in the 23rd minute to leave it 0-6 apiece.
Their opponents would test goalkeeper O’Donovan and his full-back line several times in the closing stages of the first half, though.
Dennehy broke through in the 25th minute, and though his close range shot was saved by O’Donovan, Dennehy would have poked home the rebound were it not for a goal-line clearance from Donagh McGuirk.
Two Barrett frees would then move Spioraid Naoimh in front – 0-8 to 0-7 – while O’Donovan was called into action once more at the other end, producing a magnificent double save to preserve CSN’s advantage at the interval.
They would not shake Kilfinane easily, but, once Bishopstown found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, they would not be stopped.
CJ Barrett 0-9 (0-6 f), C Caplice 0-3 (0-1 f), J Drinan, J Dineen (0-1 f) 0-2 each, B O’Brien, D Enright, E McKeown 0-1 each.
C Dennehy 0-12 (0-9 f), C McDonagh, S Philpott (0-1 f) 0-2 each.
C O’Donovan (Ballinhassig); S Young (Bishopstown), C Walsh (Ballygarvan), D McGuirk (St Finbarr’s); D Enright (Inniscarra), C Caplice (Bishopstown), A Cuseen (Ballinhassig); D Lyons (Ballinora), E McKeown (St Finbarr’s) J Dineen (Inniscarra), CJ Barrett (St Finbarr’s) B O’Brien (Bishopstown); J Drinan (Ballinora), J Naughton (Douglas), N Crowley (Bishopstown).
S Laverty (Ballinora) for Enright (30-30+2, temp), J Lombard (Ballinhassig) for B O’Brien (Bishopstown).
J Roche; O Crowley, A Burchill, TJ Buckley; J Hayden, J Moloney, K McCarthy; D Murphy, D Waters (Charleville); S Flanagan, C Dennehy, J Cronin; J Meade, S Philpott, C McDonagh.
C Gilligan for Meade (HT), T Burchill for Hayden (47), D Gleeson for Cronin (56), Meade for Waters (60+3).
S O’Neill (Tipperary)
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