Shields dashes Douglas hopes

WITH Cork senior star and All-Ireland U21 medal-winner Michael Shields in scintillating form at midfield, St Finbarr’s dashed Douglas’ hopes of winning the Cork City Division U21 FC title for the first time at Ballinlough on Saturday night.

Much was expected of Douglas, but they never got going. In a game spoiled by a downpour, Barrs always held the upper hand, principally thanks to a splendid defensive performance and Shields’ heroics.

Determined Barrs scorched into a big lead by the end of the first quarter after accurate strikes from Adi Calnan, David Newman, Shields and Roy Leahy.

Douglas finally got on the scoreboard in the 16th minute when centre -forward Shane McCarthy pointed but that was as good as it got for the history-seekers as rampant Blues led 0-7 to 0-3 at the break.

Colin O’Sullivan increased Barrs’ lead with a point five minutes after the resumption, but Douglas battled back with three points from centre forward McCarthy, narrowing the gap to two points entering the closing stages.

But Douglas, who scored just two points from play, courtesy of their chief marksman McCarthy and corner-forward Stephen Bermingham, lacked the poise and class to plunder the spoils.

And two points in injury time from Leahy and Calnan sealed a deserved victory for St Finbarr’s.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: A Calnan 0-3 (0-1 from free); R Leahy 0-2; C O’Sullivan 0-2; M Shields, D Newman and T McCarthy 0-1 each.

Douglas: S McCarthy 0-5,(0-4 from frees); S Bermingham 0-1.

ST FINBARR’S: D Haines; R O’Dwyer, K O’Driscoll, P Kennedy; T McCarthy, D Newman, D Bracken; E Keane, M Shields; D O’Leary, A Calnan, C O’Sullivan; B Newman, R Leahy, J Sexton.

Substitute: I Leahy for O’Sullivan.

Douglas: T O’Connor; F O’Brien, E Cotter, B O’Connor; R O’Keeffe, P Carroll, J Lane; A Barry, E Cadogan; B Fitzgerald, S McCarthy, P Holland; K Murphy, P O’Neill S Bermingham.

Referee: J Kearney (Na Piarsaigh).