Cork Premier 2 MHC: Barrs cruise to victory over Bandon in final

Conor O'Donoghue scored 14 points for the Barrs.

St. Finbarrs captain James Murray and players celebrate after defeating Bandon in the Rebel Óg Premier 2 Minor Hurling Championship final at Páirc Uí Rinn. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Cork Premier 2 MHC final: St Finbarr’s 1-24 Bandon 1-13 

St Finbarr’s took flight early on and were never going to be stopped as they cruised to victory over Bandon in the Premier 2 Minor Hurling Championship final.

Conor O’Donoghue and James Martin were unerring in attack as they were seven clear, 1-11 to 0-7 at the interval. The first half took time to find a spark, but when it came, the Togher side lit it. Seven of the first eight points went their way, O’Donoghue the standout – four from play and one outrageous sideline cut the pick of his 14-point haul by the conclusion.

Bandon briefly rallied through frees, trimming it to two by the 26th minute, 0-8 to 0-6, but the Barrs hit back with a burst that changed the game. Alex O’Herlihy found Adam Philips, whose shot crept in at the near post for the opening goal. O’Donoghue tacked on three more, and the gap was seven at the break.

Three quick points after the restart stretched it to 10 before Bandon’s Daniel Murphy was hauled down for a penalty, which Michael O’Donovan buried. It was as close as they’d come. Within minutes, Charlie Galvin and two O’Donoghue frees had restored the nine-point lead.

From there, the Barrs coasted home. Bandon managed just two more points, only one from play – Cathal O’Riordan’s late effort – as the Togher men closed it out in style.

It was a performance rich in control – and, after losing this one last year and the football decider seven days ago, one they badly needed.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: C O’Donoghue 0-14 (0-9 f, 0-1 sdl), J Martin 0-4, A Philips 1-0, CJ Barrett, C Galvin 0-2 each, A O’Herlihy, L O’Regan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Bandon: D O’Mahony 0-8 (0-6 f, 0-2 65), M O’Donovan 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1 f), C O’Riordan 0-3.

ST FINBARR’S: J Cuddihy; D McGuirk, E Barrett, P O’Shea; C Galvin; T Howe, J Murray (c), L O’Regan; A Philips, E Malone; J Martin, C O’Donoghue, C Kelleher; A O’Herlihy, CJ Barrett.

Subs: H McTiernan for Kelleher, E Burke for Philips, C Herlihy for O’Herlihy (all 60), C McSweeney for CJ Barrett, D O’Callaghan for O’Shea (both 60+2).

BANDON: K O’Connell; T O’Riordan, M Foley; L O’Driscoll; C McWeeney, D Coughlan, R Tarrant; C O’Flynn, J Heverin; D Murphy, D O’Mahony (c), A O’Driscoll; C O’Flynn, M O’Donovan, C O’Riordan.

Subs: O Coughlan for O’Flynn (46), C Hurley for A O’Driscoll, A Hurley for McWeeney, B O’Regan for Foley, D Whelton for Murphy (all 60+2).

Referee: N O’Neill (Midleton)