Dunne's class drives Shandrum past Barrs in gripping final replay

Shandrum were crowned Premier 2 MHC champions following an exhilarating second decider at Pairc Ui Rinn with St Finbarr's the hard-luck losers

GREEN AND GOLD GLORY: Team captain Jack Hogan, Shandrum and teammates celebrate with the cup presented by Michael O Mahony, Rebel Og on Saturday Oct 12 after the P2MFC final replay between Shandrum and St Finbarr's in Pairc Ui Rinn. Pic: Larry Cummins

Premier 2 MHC Final Replay: Shandrum 3-15 St Finbarr’s 4-10 

The class of Christopher Dunne proved pivotal for Shandrum as they were crowned Premier 2 MHC champions following an exhilarating replay at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday.

The north Cork side will count their blessings as on the stroke of the full time whistle a superb save from PJ Noonan denied the Barrs victory when Sean Doolan's strike at the death looked bound for the net.

The early Shandrum pressure was rewarded with a second Dunne point from play as the Barrs were struggling to get possession. The Barrs needed inspiration quickly and they got a minute later courtesy of a stunning Jack Brady white flag.

Indeed the Barrs should have been further punished in the 13th minute when Ben Jordan Reidy soloed through on goal and, instead of splitting the posts, he attempted a shot for goal which proved a poor option.

Despite Shandrum's dominance they were punished with a sucker punch goal in the 14th minute when a high ball into the square wasn’t dealt with and Cian O’Sullivan blasted the ball to the net.

Credit to Shandrum, they responded in style and three consecutive points from Dunne (2) and Liam Coughlan restored their four-point lead.

Once again poor defending from Shandrum allowed the Barrs register their second goal. Captain Ricky Barrett made a telling move towards goal and despite his shot getting parried it fell into the path of O’Sullivan who was on hand to guide it to the net for his second goal.

In a replica of the first game between these sides, the Barrs finished stronger but consecutive points from Dunne ensured the sides were level 2-4 to 0-10.

In the final minute the Barrs goal-striking power struck again as Conor O’Donoghue caught a magnificent ball before rifling an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Trailing 3-4 to 0-10 at the break, Shandrum needed to find the hurling they produced in the opening 20 minutes and they duly produced a glimpse of magic four minutes into the restart.

A superb solo run by Charlie Finn saw him assist a fine pass to Dunne who struck an unstoppable shot to the corner of the net.

In a rip-roaring start to the second half the Barrs responded with consecutive points from O’Donoghue but Shandrum responded almost immediately.

Johnny Murphy, quiet in the first half by his standards, went on a rampaging run before unleashing an unstoppable shot past the bewildered Barrs keeper.

A stunning Sean Doolan goal in the final minute reduced the deficit to two points and the same player could have won it only for the majestic Noonan save. A breathtaking ending.

Scorers for Shandrum: C Dunne 1-10 (0-5f, 65), B J Reidy 1-2 J Murphy 1-1, , L Coughlan 0-2.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: C O’Donoghue 1-8 (0-2f,65) C O’Sullivan 2-0, S Doolan 1-0 E Malone 0-2.

Shandrum: P J Noonan; J Morrissey, E Keating, E Sheedy; D Ryan, J Hogan, P O’Connor; C Finn, T O’Neill; C Dunne, J Murphy, L Coughlan; B O’Gorman, B Jordan-Reidy, J D Egan. Subs: B Farrissey for J D Egan (55) 

St Finbarr’s: J Cuddihy; E Hurley, T Egan, D Burke; D O’Kelly, J Murray, A Philips; J Millard, C O’Donoghue; J Brady, E Malone; S Doolan, R Barrett, C O’Sullivan.

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).