Bishopstown gunning for glory against Clooney-Quin

BISHOPSTOWN hope to bring the curtain down on a hugely successful season when they meet Clare champions Clooney-Quin in the Munster IHC final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, throw-in 2pm.

As this is the inaugural year of this championship, both clubs will be keen to put their name on the cup.

Tomorrow’s final will be the 17th championship game in 14 weeks for three Bishopstown players — Michael Power, Terence Murray and Jamie O’Sullivan — and that is bound to take its toll. The only definite absentee will be achilles tendon victim Martin Hayes, who hasn’t played since the county final win over Carrigtwohill. However, Donal O’Mahony has been an able deputy.

O’Mahony played as goalkeeper as a 16-year-old with the county minor hurling in the 1990 All-Ireland final, and team mentor Robin Murray says he brings a wealth of experience to a very young side.

“It’s been a long arduous season but it has had its rewards. Hopefully the lads have something left in the tank for tomorrow’s final. It would be a fantastic achievement to win a Munster title with such a young team.

“We are a bit concerned that the team has peaked. They were superb in the county final but have struggled in the provincial championship and haven’t produced a similar performance since.”

The Clare champions go into the game without three key players. Pat Reynolds has a broken finger, Killian Duggan has a thumb injury while Martin Duggan must serve a one-match ban after being red-carded in the semi-final win over Clonea.

However, coach John McCarthy is still optimistic: “It’s a well-worn cliché but we are not going to Limerick to make up the numbers.

“We recently won the county minor hurling title, and while those players are a bit on the young side and inexperienced, now is the time to see what they can do.

“It’s not the right time of the year for hurling, but there is little we can do about it, and conditions will be the same for both teams. Had anyone told me at the beginning of the year that we would be playing championship hurling in December I’d have had him certified, but I’m delighted we are.

“There is a tremendous buzz around the village. This is the biggest thing to hit us in years and we intend to make the most of it.

“We are going into the unknown here in that we haven’t seen Bishopstown play. Because we were playing at the same time as they were, I didn’t get the chance to see them in action, but from reports, they are a very young side with plenty of hurling ability.”

Clooney-Quin will include two current county seniors in Fergal Lynch and Conor Harrison, while Adrian Fleming would have played minor and under-21 with the Banner County.

It’s been a long season for both teams, and fatigue may be a factor on Sunday. But if Bishopstown, who celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, can muster up one more supreme effort they should keep the show on the road into the New Year.