Oakes the ace as Bishopstown control derby
Leo Jones searches for a lighter outside the Bishopstown dressing room in Páirc Uí Rinn, a member of his backroom team happy to oblige. Cigarette lit, the winning manager blows a fair puff of smoke into the evening rain. The relief.
A testing fortnight it’s been for Jones and Bishopstown. First, Dan O’Donovan, midfield in their first round dismissal of Ilen Rovers, picked up a season-ending knee injury in a league encounter. O’Donovan went under the knife on Saturday and won’t return until 2015. Compounding matters, centre-back Noel O’Donovan followed his namesake into the sickbay, a groin injury ruling him out of this fourth round clash. Starved of championship action for 14 weeks, and your hand weakened by the loss of two key operators. No ideal preparation.
