Town will be troublesome but experience can swing it for Sars

It is a fourth final in five years for Sarsfields, and a first-ever for Bishopstown, with the Riverstown club favourites with the bookmakers to win the Seán Óg Murphy Cup for the third time since 2008.

When the city side were winning county U21 titles in 2006 and ’07, with many of tomorrow’s starters in their ranks, it was Midleton they encountered as Sars could not get out of East Cork, so theoretically they should not have any fears. Experience is huge here, though, and it gives Sars a massive advantage though strong favouritism means they have to guard against complacency.

That is not likely to be a problem with leaders like Kieran Murphy, Cian McCarthy, goalkeeper Alan Kennedy, Wexford’s Eoin Quigley and Cork corner-back Conor O’Sullivan in their ranks.

Pa Cronin has been immense at centre-forward for Bishopstown during their run since the fourth round, scoring heavily in the games against Douglas, Midleton and Ballymartle. Unseen work from Thomas Murray, Kevin O’Driscoll and Ronan Conway, among others, is just as valuable, however, while Shane O’Neill and Ian Jones are central to a mean defence, which will face its stiffest test, while goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran could be called upon as Sars are not afraid to go for goals.

In their 2008 and ’10 wins over Bride Rovers and Glen Rovers respectively, Sars needed to come good with late surges, but if they begin well and limit Cronin, then they should take the title again. If Bishopstown can find the net early, though, then they could have the capacity to frustrate.

Neither side has any injury worries since the semi-finals, with Mark Driscoll and Denis Crowley fit again for Bishopstown.

Verdict: Sarsfields

Did you know? The sides’ last competitive meeting was a 3-17 to 2-16 SHL win for Sarsfields in September 2011.