Munster Club FC: Stradbally 1-12 Bishopstown 0-12 Stradbally reached their first Munster club football final in 24 years with a deserved win over Bishopstown at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. Both teams finished with 14 players and a Stradbally substitute was also sent off for joining in a flare-up on the far side of the pitch from the dug-out.
The Waterford champions lost midfield George Walsh after 20 minutes when he was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Shane Conlisk. Bishopstown substitute Tomas Hayes, who came for the second half, lasted just 11 minutes as he also received his marching orders following an off-the-ball-incident which was brought to the referee's attention by an umpire.
At the time Stradbally led by a point, 1-8 to 0-10, and they went on to increase their advantage to four with some smart approach play which led to a succession of well-taken points.
Ger Power's darting run through the middle yielded a superb score after 44 minutes, followed a couple of minutes later by another from man of the match Niall Curran before James O'Shea ended an 18-minute barren spell for the Cork side with his fourth point from play.
That only spurred Stradbally to greater effort, however. More neat interplay gave John Coffey space and time to kick a point and when Curran fisted over his side's 12th point five minutes from the end of regulation time Stradbally had edged 1-12 to 0-11 in front.
A James Ferriter free reduced the deficit to a goal entering injury-time, but even with three additional minutes Bishopstown had neither the resolve nor guile to trouble a stern Stradbally defence.
The first half produced some superb football at the end of which the Waterford side enjoyed a 1-7 to 0-8 lead. They stunned Bishopstown with a third minute goal. Goalkeeper Michael Galvin attempted to find Robert Honohan with a short kick-out, but the pass was intercepted. Power had his shot parried by Galvin, but Stephen Cunningham followed up to score from close range.
It was the prelude to a fine spell of attacking play from both sides with Honohan firing over a superb equalising point after eight minutes for 1-1 to 0-4 and then catching the restart to set up John A O'Sullivan for another well-taken score.
Stradbally came again as points by Noel Curran from a free and an excellent score from Power edged them in front again only for James O'Shea to level matters, 0-6 to 1-3 after 12 minutes.
A Ferriter free nudged Bishopstown in front, but Stradbally responded well with John Halpin and a long-range Curran free reclaiming the lead. Despite Ferriter levelling for a fifth time two Michael Walsh frees helped Stradbally in front at half-time.
Two quick-fire points from John A O'Sullivan and O'Shea restored equality on the sixth occasion inside four minutes of the resumption, but Bishopstown lost their shape after that and Stradbally prospered.
STRADBALLY: E Cunningham; E Cummins, K Coffey, T Walsh; O Costelloe, J Herne, D Doyle; G Walsh, J Halpin (0-1); J Coffey (0-1), G Power, (capt 0-2), S Cunningham (1-0); N Curran (0-6 0-3 frees), M Walsh (0-2 frees), S Lannon. Sub: S Lawlor for Halpin (58 mins).
BISHOPSTOWN: M Galvin; JL O'Sullivan, M Hayes, S Murphy; N O'Donovan, A O'Connor, B Healy; D Cullinane, R Honohan (0-1); B Cuthbert, J Ferriter (0-4, 0-3 frees), J Murphy; JA O'Sullivan (0-2), S Conlisk (0-1), J O'Shea (0-4). Subs: T Hayes for JL O'Sullivan (half-time), J Honohan for R Honohan (49 mins), M Cogan for Healy (56 mins)
Referee: M Walsh (Limerick).
