Fired-up Bishopstown battle to victory over Newmarket

A flare-up between the respective management teams illustrated how this entertaining game was played.

Sat, 17 Aug, 2024 - 17:52

Jack McKay

Cork SAFC: Bishopstown 2-8 Newmarket 0-12

An intense and physical battle – this clash between Bishopstown and Newmarket lived up to the ‘championship football’ cliche perfectly.

There were four yellow cards, two black and one red, but the flare-ups between the management teams showed what was at stake – and it transpired onto the pitch for an outstanding game of Senior A football in Mourneabbey.

They had led throughout the first half, but Bishopstown were lost on the restart.

They were hit for six scores without reply thanks to Cork U20 captain Hugh O’Connor and substitute Ryan O’Keeffe, who accounted for five of Newmarket’s six scores.

They were now 0-11 to 1-4 in front, but it was short lived.

An outstanding kick pass inside from Michael Nunan reached Patrick Casey, and he handpassed it across goal to Kevin Murphy. He palmed it into the net in the 44th minute.

The Town were now just one behind, and fired up.

The pushing and shoving on the sideline was certainly foreshadowing, and it wasn’t a surprise to see Newmarket’s Cathal Browne shown a black card just 20 seconds after the goal.

The north Cork side fought on, with Hugh O’Connor leading the way.

The only thing between O’Connor and a goal chance was veteran Diarmuid Lester, who drew a brilliant charging foul, his second of the game.

Conor Dunne, who had been impressive in front of the posts continued that trend as he scored from a mark, while a fisted point from Simon Collins put them back in front for the first time since the 33rd minute. 2-6 to 0-11, 10 minutes to go.

Bishopstown kicked two more to make it 1-4 without reply, but a crucial score for the north Cork side through Aiden Browne reduced the gap down to two, their first point in 16 minutes.

Goalscorer Kevin Murphy saw black on 60, while Paul Honohan was dealt his second yellow in added time.

Despite being down to 13, the Town held their shape. They shut the gates on their opponents, who could only shoot from range.

Newmarket did that twice, but both shots were well wide.

The Town now have two senior football championship wins for the first time in eight years.

The first half was as exciting as the second, with Honohan fouled eight minutes in for a penalty. Liam Hogan’s excellent strike went to the goalkeeper’s left, and Josh O’Keeffe couldn’t keep it out.

Nunan almost had the Town’s second goal, but there was too much power on his strike and it went over the crossbar. Still, they led 1-2 to 0-1.

Newmarket hit three on the bounce, with Hugh O’Connor firing twice, 1-2 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.

Colm O’Driscoll, who was superb between the posts for the city side made two excellent stops, particularly one that denied Hugh O’Connor from close range in the 28th minute, which was crucial in helping the team to their 1-4 to 0-5 lead at the break.

Scorers for Bishopstown: C Dunne 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 m), L Hogan, K Murphy 1-0 each, M Nunan, S Collins, K McFadden 0-1 each.

Newmarket: H O’Connor 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 45), R O’Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 f), B O’Connor, D Cottrell, P Allen, A Browne 0-1 each.

BISHOPSTOWN: C O’Driscoll; P Casey, M Murphy, L Hogan; K Murphy, E Byrne, J Murphy; C Dunne, S Sheridan; D Holland, D Lester, M Nunan; B Clifford (Cpt), P Honohan, K McFadden.

Subs: B McCarthy for J Murphy (15, inj), S Collins for Nunan (44), Nunan for Casey (60).

NEWMARKET: J O’Keeffe; B Daly, R Lynn, M Browne; A Browne, P Allen (Cpt), P Browne; M Cottrell, C Browne; D O’Keeffe, H O’Connor, C O’Keeffe; A Ryan, B O’Connor, D Cottrell.

Subs: R O’Keeffe for D O’Keeffe (HT), T Ryan for C O’Keeffe (40), D Hannon for Daly (53), D Norton for P Browne (55), D O’Keeffe for D Cottrell (59).

Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers)