PIHC: Bishopstown head into another relegation playoff as Éire Óg sign off with a victory
A determined Colm O'Callaghan looks to find a way through the Bishopstown defence at Blarney. Picture: Larry Cummins
Éire Óg condemned Bishopstown to the relegation play-off in the Co-Op Superstores Cork PIHC with a comfortable victory over their city rivals in Blarney on Sunday afternoon.
It was essentially a play-off to avoid the play-offs, and it was Diarmuid Kirwan’s side that got the result with a performance that saw David Kirwan top the scoring charts with nine points.
The loss was a bitter one for Bishopstown, as the club is set to play their third relegation play-off in three seasons after dropping from Premier Senior to Senior A and Premier Intermediate.
Éire Óg had more than enough to secure their status in a game that saw the Muskerry side trail just once. They led 0-8 at the interval, with the tie won in the second half.
The first 30 minutes were tense, with both clubs exchanging scores.
They were level three times until a Kirwan free poked Éire Óg in front at 0-4 to 0-3 and that was followed by Kevin Hallissey driving the sliotar over and Colm O’Callaghan splitting the posts from play.
Bishopstown responded with a quick brace from James Scally, one from play and a free.
Éire Óg immediately hit back by outscoring their rivals 0-2 to 0-1 before the break, with a Kirwan free giving them a 0-8 to 0-6 advantage when the referee blew his whistle.
The Muskerry side would have been further in front if not for six wides, two from placed balls.
Éire Óg rattled off 0-4 on the restart with Johnny Galvin getting two and Kirwan converting another free.
Bishopstown cut the gap to 0-11 to 0-8 with Cillian Murray and Thomas Murray splitting the posts, but this felt like the club was swimming against the tide as Éire Óg were dominating almost every aspect of the game.
Eventually, Bishoptown tried to create goal chances and the best of the bunch saw Murray run out of road before he could get a shot away in the 44th minute.
Éire Óg shrugged off these minor incursion and set up Dylan Foley for a effort that sailed over. Kirwan nailed another free just seconds later as the club went further in front at 0-13 to 0-8.
Liam O’Driscoll tried to get Bishopstown back in the game with a pass to David Quaid, but there was no goal from the edge of the square at the end of the move in the 44th minute.
Éire Óg went on to seal the win with Kirwan scoring twice from play and O’Callaghan getting his second.
Bishopstown were desperate for a goal as time progressed. The best they could do was force Dylan Desmond into a reflex save in the 60th minute.
D Kirwan 0-9 (0-6 f), J Galvin, K Hallissey, C O’Callaghan 0-2 each, D Foley 0-1.
C Murray 0-4 f, J Scally 0-3 (0-2 f), C Hegarty, T Murray 0-1 each.
D Desmond; J Mullins, J Kelleher, C Clifford; C McGoldrick, M Brady, O O’Shea; K Beechinor, J Galvin; K Hallissey, D Foley, J Kelleher; D Healy, C O’Callaghan, D Kirwan.
S Hurley for Healy (HT); D McCarthy for Kelleher (50).
D O’Brien; G Murphy, B Murphy, N O’Shea; C Dunne, C O’Driscoll, D Daly; L O’Driscoll, C Hegarty; C Caplice, J Scally, D Murray; C Murray, N Crowley, D Quaid.
R Foley for Caplice (HT), C O’Hora for Crowley (37), S Foley for Murray (45), T Murray for Quaid (51).
Dave Copps (Ballyhea)
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