Olan O'Donovan and Luke Murphy grab goals as Barryroe beat St Finbarr's

Barryroe 2-18 St Finbarr's 0-16 

Barryroe's two second-half goals proved decisive in their victory over St Finbarr's in the Co-op Superstores Premier Junior Hurling Championship at Belgooly on Saturday.

It was tight all through before the closing 10 minutes as Olan O'Donovan finally breached the Barrs' defence and then former Cork minor Luke Murphy put the final nail in the coffin on 57 minutes.

Barryroe registered the first score as Adam McSweeney fired over, but, making good use of a stiff breeze, Cian Buckley levelled matters with a fine long-range effort. The Barrs increased their tally to 0-3 after Adam Buckley and David Murray landed a point apiece inside six minutes.

With both sides guilty of some wayward shooting, it was the Carbery outfit who began to find the target as Ryan O'Donovan struck three points in succession, including an effort that could easily have found the net. The Barrs were back level after 16 minutes as Sam Cunningham opened his account before taking the lead shortly afterwards when Cathal Crowley fired over from distance.

The lead did not last long as O'Donovan found the range with a close-in free. As the sides continued to trade points, they were level again on 23 minutes at 0-6 to 0-6.

With each side looking to gain the advantage, another O'Donovan point edged Barryroe back in front on 24 minutes, but back came the city men as Scott Callanan and Cian Buckley restored their lead. That advantage was short-lived as O'Donovan levelled the game just before the break: 0-8 to 0-8.

The early stages of the second half reflected much of what had gone before as neither side could get its nose in front.

Indeed, as late as the 49th minute, a David Murray point, after another busy display from the St Finbarr's forward, left the sides level at 0-14 to 0-14 and looked to be setting up a grandstand finish.

However, the Carbery men had other ideas as they struck for two late goals to secure victory and set up them up ideally before their next outing against neighbours Argideen Rangers.

Scorers for Barryroe: O O'Donovan 1-7 (0-3 f), R O'Donovan 0-6, L Murphy 1-0, T Ó Buchalla 0-2, A McSweeney, J Murphy, M Whelton (f) 0-1 each.

St Finbarr's: D Murray (0-1 f), S Cunningham, C Buckley 0-4 each, A Buckley 0-2, C Crowley, S Callanan 0-1 each.

BARRYROE: M Whelton; D Moloney, J O'Brien, D O'Sullivan; K Sheehy, J Moloney, M Ryan; A McSweeney, D McCarthy; B O'Donovan, T Ó Buchalla, J Murphy; L Murphy, R O'Donovan, O O'Donovan.

Sub: C O'Regan for B O'Donovan (34).

ST FINBARR'S: J McCarthy; J Kennefick, S O'Leary, S Kennedy; C Crowley, E Keane, T Egan; C O'Connor, C Steele; M Nason, A Buckley, C Buckley; S Cunningham, C Keane, D Murray.

Subs: E Malone for C Keane (35), C Galvin for C Steele (55), S McCarthy for D Murray (57).

Referee: Jimmy Smiddy (Castlemartyr).