Five-goal St Catherine’s blitz Barryroe to reach another Cork PJHC final

St Catherine' Sean O'Donoghue and Barryroe's Jerome O'Brien take their eyes off the sliotar during the PJHC semi final match in Ballymah. Pic: Howard Crowdy,

St Catherine’s 5-19 Barryroe 1-18

St Catherine’s have made it to their third Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship final in four years after a ruthless performance to overcome the stern challenge posed by Barryroe.

It will take a very good side to stop the Ballynoe/Conna outfit in the final based on the evidence provided throughout the championship to date.

This contest commenced at a rip-roaring pace, with St Catherine’s goalkeeper Eoin Davis making a terrific save to deny a Barryroe goal attempt from Olan O’Donovan in the opening thirty seconds.

The opening half was a close-fought affair, with St Catherine’s holding the advantage at 0-8 to 0-5 after 20 minutes.

Eoin Davis showcased his ability to clinically convert from long range frees, with John Temple, Dan Mangan and Brian Mulcahy among those to split the posts for St Catherine’s early on.

Barryroe, who racked up plenty of wides in the opening quarter alone, did find scores to keep within touching distance, with Tomas Ó Buachalla among those in form in attack.

It was St Catherine’s that held the advantage at the break at 0-11 to 0-9, with Brian Mulcahy ending the first half with a lovely point from play.

Barryroe rattled the crossbar seconds into the second half through another goal attempt from Olan O’Donovan.

St Catherine's Matthew Mulcahy reaches out for the sliotar ahead of Barryroe's Conn Dineen during the PJHC semi final match in Ballymah. Pic: Howard Crowdy.

St Catherine’s made them pay, as they hit for the net on two occasions in the space of a few minutes. Brian Mulcahy unleashed a rocket to the top corner on 32 minutes, followed by another Mulcahy goal, as he finished well from a tight angle.

Oisin Fitzgerald then converted with two lovely points from long range as St Catherine’s held a commanding lead at 2-13 to 0-11 on 40 minutes.

When Gearoid O’Brien found the back of the net on 52 minutes, reacting quickest to pounce from close range after the ball came back off the post, St Catherine’s could well and truly smell another county final day incoming, as they now led 3-17 to 0-16.

Barryroe then got a goal of their own, as Olan O’Donovan planted the ball home, but by then they knew a minor miracle was required. Catherine's were in no mood for stopping. They got a fourth goal of the contest through Matt Mulcahy after 55 minutes.

In second-half stoppage time, Gearoid O’Brien danced his way through and slotted home clinically. That capped off what was an impressive display from a St Catherine’s point of view and has them primed to the county decider.

Scorers for St Catherine’s: B Mulcahy 2-3, G O’Brien 2-0, D Mangan 0-6 (0-3 f, 0-2 65), M Mulcahy 1-1, E Davis 0-3 f, J Temple, O Fitzgerald 0-2 each, D O’Connell, D Morrison 0-1 each.

Scorers for Barryroe: O O’Donovan 1-3 (0-1 f), T Ó Buachalla, A McSweeney (0-1 f) 0-3 each, S Holland, L Murphy 0-2 each, J Moloney, C Dineen, R O’Donovan, M Whelton (f), D Ó Buachalla 0-1 each.

ST CATHERINE'S: E Davis; C Hayes, J Neville, P Keane; C Leamy, E O’Riordan, O Fitzgerald; D O’Connell, C Hegarty; J Temple, S O’Donoghue, M Mulcahy; K O’Donoghue, D Mangan, B Mulcahy.

Subs: E Condon for O’Donoghue (40), W Leamy for C Hayes (43), G O’Brien for Temple (50), D Morrison for Mulcahy (53), C Pietropaolo for O’Connell (58).

BARRYROE: M Whelton; D Moloney, J O’Brien, D O’Sullivan; K Sheehy, C Dineen, J Moloney; A McSweeney, S O’Riordan; R O’Donovan, T Ó Buachalla, J Murphy; L Murphy, S Holland, O O’Donovan.

Subs: D Ó Buachalla for Murphy (36), C O’Regan for Holland (51).

Referee: Brendan Barrett (Ballygarvan).

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