Michael Shields stars as Barrs juniors claim semi-final victory

Barrs overcame Urhan to reach the Cork Premier JFC final

EVERGREEN: Urhan's Joseph O'Shea stopping the advance of Finbarr's Michael Shields. Pic: Denis Boyle

Bon Secours Cork Premier JFC semi-final

St Finbarr’s 0-10 Urhan 0-8 

St Finbarr’s secured a Bon Secours Cork Premier JFC county final appearance against Kilmurry following a two-point defeat of Urhan in Rossmore on Saturday evening.

An arm wrestle from start to finish, the city side qualified for a Premier junior county decider thanks to a strong defensive effort and utilising an effective substitutes bench. More clinical in front of goal (all bar one of their scores came from open play), St Finbarr’s Denis O’Brien and former All-Ireland winner Michael Shields accounted for half of the winner’s total.

As for Urhan, the Beara club’s quest to reach a first adult county final since 1992 may have floundered at the penultimate stage but there is much to build on for the future.

It was a tight, defensive opening half that ended with the Barrs 0-5 to 0-4 in front despite holding their opponents scoreless for 20 minutes. Adrian Murphy (two, one free), Denis O’Brien (two) and Michael Shields scores handed the city side the slenderest of interval leads. Conchubar Harrington (two), Phillip O’Shea and Alan Elphick scores kept a dogged Urhan in a semi-final every score was hard-earned.

A nervy third quarter saw Alan McCarthy fist the Barrs further ahead before Conchubar Harrington and Vinne Lehane efforts levelled matters with 19 minutes to go.

A flurry of Barrs substitutions had the desired effect and in an instant, Denis O’Brien and Eoin Comyns had their team 0-8 to 0-6 ahead. Another sub, Cian Madden rattled an Urhan upright but, refusing to go away, a battling Urhan moved within a point courtesy of a Phillip O’Shea long-range effort.

It took a clever dummy and score from Michael Shields to settle the Barrs prior to Cian Madden making it 0-10 to 0-7 ahead of five minutes of injury-time, During that late spell, Urhan couldn’t find an equalising goal despite Vinne Lehane scorching a late effort inches over.

The Barrs held on for a merited victory by two points and will face Kilmurry for this year’s Premier JFC title off the back of a confident display.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: D O’Brien 0-3, A Murphy (0-1 free), M Shields 0-2 each, A McCarthy, E Comyns, C Madden 0-1 each.

Scorers for Urhan: C Harrington 0-3, P O’Shea, V Lehane 0-2 each, A Elphick 0-1.

St Finbarr’s: C Keane; M Russell, D Byrne, J Kennefick; J Murphy, A Lynne, A McCarthy (captain); L Hannigan, F Crowley; D O’Brien, O Murphy, C O’Sullivan; S Fenton, M Shields, A Murphy.

Subs: C Doolan for S Fenton (ht), C Steele for J Murphy (42), C Madden for A Murphy (44), E Keane for C O’Sullivan (44), R Fitzpatrick for F Crowley (56).

Urhan: R Crowley; A Elphick, Conor O’Sullivan (joint-captain), D Harrington; N Shea, J O’Shea, E O’Shea; A Elphick, M McCarthy; A O’Neill, P O’Shea (joint-captain), S O’Shea; C Harrington, Ciarán O’Sullivan, B Sullivan.

Subs: V Lehane for B Sullivan (38), A O’Donoghue for M McCarthy (38), C Crowely for A O’Neill (56), C O’Shea for D Elphick (56, inj).

Referee: Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers).