Carrigaline race into lead and then hang on to beat Bishopstown

Five of the Carrigaline starters have now reached championship semi-finals in football and hurling. 

NERVY: Carrigaline's Brian Coakley is tackled by Bishopstown's Kevin Murphy and Brian Clifford Cork SAFC quarter-final at Pairc Ui Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork SAFC quarter-final: Carrigaline 1-13 Bishopstown 1-11

Carrigaline controlled this game for more than 50 minutes and lived on their nerves for the remainder in a two-point victory over Bishopstown.

Michael Meaney’s league champions were hampered by the absence of Cork footballer Brian O’Driscoll due to injury but looked comfortable winners when building up an eight-point lead. Their goal punished an error with a 40-yard Niall Coakley effort into the unguarded net.

The Town stormed back with a Michael Power goal and threatened a couple more scrambles close to the opposition line before Carrigaline’s progress to a semi-final against Kanturk was secured.

For five of their starters, they have advanced to semi-finals in both codes, matching their achievement in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Carrigaline went with an aggressive early press on the Bishopstown kick-out. When the tactic worked, Kevin Kavanagh twice fisted the ball to a teammate for a quick score.

Kieran McCarthy cut onto his left peg for the first. Kavanagh continued his looping run onto the opposite flank to handpass the next.

When Bishopstown won the break, they raced into space through Michael Nunan. He squared across goal to Paul Honohan but he palmed straight at Seán Mellett who completed the save.

The reward proved to be worth the calculated risk as Carrigaline tagged on the first four points, with Brian Coakley and Éanna Desmond also registering.

Carrigaline manager Michael Meaney during the Cork SAFC quarter-final against Bishopstown. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Power and captain Darragh O’Connor established Bishopstown on the scoreboard. The centre-back teed up O’Connor for the first before slipping unnoticed into a pocket of space for the next, located only by a clever Kieran McFadden pass.

Desmond’s frees and a sublime point from full-back Ian Sheerin moved Carrigaline 0-7 to 0-2 clear.

The Town played with a mix of high balls into the full-forward line but their only first-half return was a Conor Dunne free.

Still, it was a one-score game when Coakley’s second was cancelled out by a tremendous outside-of-the-boot point from McFadden after spinning on the spot to find room.

But Carrigaline sprinted into the break with a Niall Coakley free followed by a fine Jack McCarthy point; their third defender to find the target. 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time.

A handling error cost Bishopstown dearly within two minutes of the restart. Nathan Gough dropped the ball with keeper Mark Driscoll ahead of him, approaching the opposition 45.

Eoghan Landers knocked the ball loose and then picked out Niall Coakley with a kick pass. The full-forward turned onto his left and perfectly judged the finish to the unguarded net from 40 yards out.

Dunne conjured up a wonderful curler in response when found by Gough.

Their first chance for a revival came and went in the 43rd minute. McFadden’s long pass found Kevin Murphy inside the cover but when he offloaded to Brian Clifford, Jack McCarthy tracked back to make the block.

Play was called back for Dunne to slot a free and Gough drew in another to make it 1-11 to 0-8.

Carrigaline’s 17-minute dry spell was ended by a Niall Coakley free but the Town came straight up-field for a goal to bring the game to life.

Eoin Byrne and O’Connor sliced through to feed Power and the number six lashed low to the net. A Dunne mark cut the gap to three, 1-12 to 1-9.

With four minutes left on the clock, they almost levelled as another mark from Honohan dropped short. Darragh King scooped his shot onto the crossbar before Dunne’s rebound was blocked by McCarthy.

A third mark, this time by Brian Clifford, slimmed the lead to two. Landers and McFadden exchanged points to leave the same difference with two minutes of stoppages remaining.

It was time enough for one more goalmouth scramble. McFadden’s palmed effort was gathered by Mellett, who then had to limp off injured, and that was enough.

Scorers for Carrigaline: N Coakley (1-2, 0-2 frees); É Desmond (0-4, 3 frees); B Coakley (0-2); I Sheerin, Kevin Kavanagh, J McCarthy, K McCarthy, E Landers (0-1 each).

Scorers for Bishopstown: C Dunne (0-5, 3 frees, 1 mark); M Power (1-1); K McFadden (0-2); N Gough, D O’Connor, B Clifford (mark) (0-1 each).

CARRIGALINE: S Mellett; N Quirke, I Sheerin, D King; Kevin Kavanagh, C O’Herlihy, J McCarthy; D Griffin, C Barry; K McCarthy, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Landers, N Coakley, É Desmond.

Subs: A Cohalan for Barry (48), D Greene for Griffin (55), Barry for Landers (60+1), C Dungan for Mellett (60+5, inj).

BISHOPSTOWN: C O’Driscoll; L Hogan, E Byrne, M Murphy; K Murphy, M Power, N Gough; D O’Connor, J Murphy; B Clifford, S Collins, K McFadden; P Honohan, C Dunne, M Nunan.

Subs: D O’Donovan for J Murphy (h-t), P Casey for Collins (43, inj), D Lester for Hogan (47).

Referee: L O’Shea (Carbery Rangers).