Cork GAA: Bishopstown through to under-21 A final, St Nick's seal spot in B decider

Despite the seven-point gap between the sides come Pa O'Driscoll's full-time whistle, it wasn't all that easy for the victors. 

The near neighbours shared six goals, but it was the Town that would grab the game by the scruff of the neck in the second-half to seal their final berth and a meeting with the west Cork outfit. 

In the 43rd minute - with the scoreboard reading 2-5 to 1-6 in favour of the Town - the defining scores arrived, and in quick succession.

Brian McCarthy booted the ball so far in the air,  it landed vertically for Ballinora stopper Alex McAllen, so much so that the bounce completely deceived him.

McCarthy's effort was quickly followed by a Kieran McFadden green flag. Bishopstown's Odhran Foley worked the ball to McFadden, who buried it from close range. 4-5 to 1-6. Although Ballinora fought valiantly, Town's lead was to be too much.  

Elsewhere, a Jack O'Sullivan-inspired St Nick's ensured their place in the under-21 B football final with a convincing 1-11 to 0-6 win over Skibbereen. 

They await the winners of Ballinhassig or Kilmurry in the decider in two weeks.

Scorers for Bishopstown: G Holland 2-1, K McFadden 1-1, B McCarthy 1-0, D O’Donovan 0-2, S Sheridan, C Dunne (f), R Foley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballinora: R Quirke 1-2 (0-1 f), L Lyons 1-1, M Quirke 0-2, K Werner 0-1.

BISHOPSTOWN: S Cronin; D O’Donovan, F Stevens (c), M Sheridan; O Foley, D Cuthbert, H Wixted; K Murphy, B McCarthy; S Sheridan, P Casey, R Foley; G Holland, C Dunne, K McFadden.

Subs: C McGrath for Sheridan, M Scally for Foley (both 57).

BALLINORA: A McAllen (c); D Byrne, A Laverty, C O’Flynn; S Lyons, M O’Brien, J Byrne; C O’Donoghue, N Davis; L Lyons, M Quirke, K Werner; A O’Sullivan, R Quirke, B Mayer.

Subs: J Trench for O’Donoghue (HT), B Carbery for Mayer (47), P Mayer for Davis (51).

Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers)