First senior win beckons for Kanturk
Kanturk v Bishopstown
FOLLOWING first round reversals in late April, Kanturk and Bishopstown had plenty of work to do in the intervening three months to keep their season alive.
Following All Ireland Club IHC glory in Croke Park in February, Kanturk held optimistic hopes of bettering Newtown in their SHC debut yet they paid the price for inconsistency and wastefulness. Indeed Kanturk had little answers to the scoring prowness of Newwtown’s scoring ace
Jamie Coughlan, reacting too late to his positioning as a lone inside attacker, for midway through the opening half, the damage was done with Newtown storming into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead.
In fairness, Kanturk fought manfully to the finish but a goal that would have made things interesting never materialised against a teak-touch Newtown rearguard. Subsequently, Kanturk found it difficult in the league, injuries and county involvement impacted significantly before a strong lineup took the spoils from Midleton last Sunday in a perfect pick me up showing.
Injuries rule out Alan Sheehy and Donncha Kenneally with a concern regarding the involvement of John McLoughlin following an injury against Midleton.
It’s been six years since Bishopstown reached the Cork SHC final, when they fell just short against a strong Sarsfields team. Back to back Co. U21HC titles from 2006 and 2007 provide the bedrock to the current senior team. From Round 1, Bishopstown were at the receiving end of a hefty defeat to Midleton with Shane O’Neill, Thomas Murray and Ken O’Halloran influencial to their game. A sweeper role handed to Murray was somewhat effective in containing the opposition attack, but, at the other end, their two-man inside line never looked capable of penetrating Midleton’s last line of defence.
Former Cork captain Patrick Cronin who missed out on early season activity has returned to the fray, that’s sure to be a big addition. Bishopstown will present a big physical presence but with Anthony Nash, Darren Browne, Lorcán McLoughlin and Aidan Walsh occupying central positions, Kanturk might just land their first championship win in the grade.
VERDICT: Kanturk