Bishopstown hurlers defeat St Vincent's in league final as Thomas Murray fires two goals 

Bishopstown 2-23 St Vincent’s 2-12

Bishopstown were crowned AOS Security Seandún Division 2 Hurling League champions as they defeated St Vincent’s before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.

The opening half was evenly contested as both sides each scored two goals, while in a one-sided second half, Bishopstown restricted St Vincent’s to four points, with three of these scores coming from frees.

With wind advantage in the opening half, Vincent’s made the better start as Dylan Doherty and Conor Doherty opened the scoring with a point each, before Tom Buckley replied for Bishopstown.

Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Vincent’s as David O’ Brien converted two frees to put Bishopstown in front for the first time in the contest.

Colum Daly tagged on a point for Bishopstown, but Vincent’s regained the lead with points from Dylan Doherty and James Collins. Alex Higgins also chipped in with a pointed free to give St Vincent’s a lead of five points to four.

In the 12th minute, Vincent’s stretched their advantage to four points as Dylan Doherty set up Shane O’Brien for the game’s opening goal. Bishopstown replied instantly as Thomas Murray won possession from a Bishopstown puck-out to score his side’s first goal. This reduced the deficit to 1-5 to 1-4.

Bishopstown seized the initiative as Rian Foley and Bobby O’Brien tagged on unanswered points from play.

In the 18th minute, Shane Lordan set up Thomas Murray for his second goal for Bishopstown, to leave his side leading 2-6 to 1-5.

Bishopstown continued to have Vincent’s pinned back as Thomas Murray and Niall O’Hora each got a point. David O’Brien slotted over his third pointed free.

St Vincent’s responded in the 27th minute when Ciaran Dennehy set up Craig Doherty for their second goal.

Vincent’s outscored Bishopstown by three points to two in the closing minutes of the opening half. This left Bishopstown leading 2-11 to 2-8 at the break.

Bishopstown got four points from play in the third quarter, while Doherty converted three frees for Vincent’s.

Bishopstown dominated the final quarter, with Callum Caplice getting a hat-trick of points from play. St Vincent’s only score of this period came courtesy of a point from play by Craig Doherty.

Scorers for Bishopstown: T Murray 2-4 (0-1 f), D O’Brien 0-5 (0-3 f), T Buckley 0-5, C Caplice 0-3, C Daly 0-2, C Luttrell (f) R Foley, B O’Brien, N O’Hora 0-1 each.

St Vincent’s: C Doherty 1-6 (0-5 f), S O’Brien 1-0, D Doherty, A O’Donoghue 0-2 each, A Higgins 0-1 f, J Collins 0-1.

BISHOPSTOWN: S Murray; S Foley, D Driscoll, B O’Brien; C Daly, S Sheridan, D Breen; M O’Mahony, S Lordan; T Buckley, D O’Brien, G Lougheed; T Murray, R Foley, N O’Hora.

Subs: C Caplice for O’Mahony (h-t), D O’Rourke for Lordan (39), N O’Shea for B O’Brien (45), C Luttrell for O’Hora (48), B Dennehy for D O’Brien (52), D Valentine for T Murray (57), I Cassidy for Lougheed, C Hendricks for Buckley (both 60).

St VINCENT'S: D Peelo; S O’Leary, E O’Brien, P Cronin; C Dennehy, C Walker, K Sorensen; D Callanan, A Higgins; J Colins, C Hegarty, S O’Brien; S Doherty, S Fitzgerald, D Doherty.

Subs: A O’Donoghue for Fitzgerald (19, inj), J Jones for S O’Brien, A Bridgeman for Hegarty (both 37), J O’Reilly for O’Leary (52, inj).

Referee: Brian Sweeney (Erin’s Own).