When it tightened, Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown found a way

Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown’s place in the Corn Thomáis Mhic Choilm final was hard earned. Their bout with Scoil Pól Kilfinane swung throughout and CSN were pushed all the way, only finding an edge in the final quarter of their semi-final.

Kilfinane dragged them back level time and again –they were level seven times across the hour – but the Bishopstown school, managed by Briain Donovan and Ballinhassig hurler Evan Cullinane, would see it through.

“I suppose when it's an occasion like this, the lads would find it hard at times,” Donovan began. “But when things got tough, they really did show up for each other and just made the right decisions at the right times and got over that.

“With the lads, they really did set their sights on getting up around this stage of the competition.

“We've had losses of players over the years, through injury, and today missing our captain. It just shows how much it means to them that they're able to dig out these results when the chips are down.” 

Their win was achieved without Conor O’Donoghue, who starred in St Finbarr’s P2 Minor Hurling Championship win last year over Bandon, scoring 0-14, of which four came from play.

Those who stood up in his absence mattered here. O’Donoghue’s club teammate CJ Barrett impressed with three from play, while centre-back Callum Caplice also shone.

But, it wouldn’t have been achieved without their goalkeeper, Charlie O’Donovan. His saves at crucial moments ensured CSN were never punished for their lapses in discipline, and his late save, in particular, preserved their narrow advantage when extra-time was a goal away.

“He was brilliant. Ballinhassig goalkeeper, I suppose, they’re just producing them!” Donovan laughed. “He's fantastic. He's done a really great job for us this year. Even the puck outs, he's getting his head up and he's hitting the right options. And the saves, even in the quarter-final as well, he really saved us. 

He's flying it.

At half-time, with the margin fine and the game still closely poised, the message from the sideline was not one of overhaul, but of continuing to do what had worked.

“At half-time, keep doing what you're doing regarding getting on breaks, using your head, getting your head up when you get the ball,” he remarked. “But really, it's just 30 solid minutes of effort, and that's what it takes to win championship games at the end of the day.” 

There was, Donovan acknowledged, one are that will need addressing ahead of the final. The concession of cheap frees allowed Kilfinane to stay within touching distance longer than CSN would have liked.

“I suppose we’ll review that now after the game.

“We did identify it at half-time, but I suppose when it's such a hectic game, it's not unavoidable, but, it happens. And that's something we definitely need to work on, because you don't want to lose on frees, definitely. But we got a run there when we needed to, and fortunately, we stayed ahead.” 

That run, ultimately, made all the difference.