Brave Scoil Pól Kilfinane suffer narrow defeat to Bishopstown in Munster U19 'B' hurling semi-final

A GALLANT Scoil Pól Kilfinane side fell agonisingly short in the Munster Post Primary Schools U19 ‘B’ hurling semi-final on Friday, falling to a 0-19 to 0-16 defeat against Coláiste An Spioráid Naomh, Bishopstown.

Played on the all-weather pitch at Páirc Ui Chaoimh, the Limerick school went in search of a last-gasp goal to force extra time, but the Cork side stood strong in defence.

It meant that for the second year in a row that Bishopstown knocked Scoil Pol out of the Munster Championship - CSN winning when the sides met at the quarter-final stage last year.

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A dozen points from Cathal Dennehy meant the Kilfinane side kept in touch throughout and were searching for an equalising goal in the closing stages.

However, Scoil Pol were reliant on the Glenroe sharpshooter – with only two other players, Cian McDonagh and Shane Philpott,  getting on the scoresheet.

The Limerick side weren’t the free-scoring form that saw them hit the back of the net five times in the quarter-final win over Scariff Community College – on Friday, scores were at a premium.

They got off to a dream start, though. Lively corner forward McDonagh got them off the mark inside 15 seconds.

Three points from Dennehy (two from play) saw Scoil Pol have a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage after 10 minutes. However, once Bishopstown found their form they quickly levelled the game with scores from James Naughton, Callum Caplice and the impressive CJ Barrett.

Frees from Dennehy saw the sides level at 0-6 apiece approaching the internal before quick thinking from Philpott saw the Blackrock player dispossess the Bishopstown full-back and hit his side into the lead.

This would be the last time Scoil Pol led in the game however. Points from Barrett and Caplice giving Bishopstown a 0-8 to 0-7 interval lead.

It was a second half where Scoil Pol just could not edge in front. They levelled the game at 0-8 each and then 0-12 apiece – but were just unable to get their noses in front,

Four in a row from the Cork school looked the seal the game – a super point from midfielder Eli Murphy McKeown the pick of the bunch. But Scoil Pol refused to give up. The hard-working forwards continued to win frees and Dennehy continued to deliver from placed balls.

Unfortunately for them however, the inspired Barrett and Jack Drinan hit crucial late scores to ensure Bishopstown reached the final.

SCORERS: Coláiste An Spioráid Naomh Bishopstown: CJ Barrett 0-9 (6f); Callum Caplice 0-3 (1f); Jack Drinan 0-2; Eli Murphy McKeown, James Naughton (f), Bobby O’Brien, Jamie Dineen, David Enright 0-1 each. Scoil Pol Kilfinane: Cathal Dennehy 0-12 (9f); Shane Philpott, Cian McDonagh 0-2 each.

COLÁISTE AN SPIORÁID NAOMH BISHOPSTOWN: Charlie O’Donovan; Stephen Young, Conor Walsh, Donagh McGuirk; David Enright, Callum Caplice, Aron Cussen; Daire Lyons, Eli Murphy McKeown; Jamie Dineen, CJ Barrett, Bobby O’Brien; Jack Drinan, James Naughton, Neil Crowley. Subs: James Lombard for Bobby O’Brien (41 mins).

SCOIL PÓL, KILFINANE: Jack Roche (Blackrock); Oran Crowley (Staker Wallace), Alex Buchill (Blackrock), TJ Buckley (Blackrock); John Hayden (Bruree), Jack Moloney (Blackrock), Kyle McCarthy (Glenroe); Daniel Murphy (Glenroe), Donnacha Walters (Charleville); Sean Flanagan (Blackrock), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Jack Cronin (Blackrock); Jack Meade (Glenroe), Shane Philpott (Blackrock), Cian McDonagh (Bruree). Subs: Conor Gilligan (Blackrock) for Jack Meade (half-time); Troy Burchill (Blackrock) for John Hayden (47 mins); Darragh Gleeson (Blackrock) for Jack Cronin (56 mins); Jack Meade for Donnacha Waters (60 mins).

REFEREE: Shane O’Neill (Tipperary).