Crosstown rivals to lock horns in novel final

The Munster Senior Schoolgirls Cup will be an all-Bandon affair for the first time after Bandon Grammar saw off Crescent College Comprehensive in a dramatic semi-final at the west Cork school earlier today. With the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in normal time, with Bandon Grammar having netminder Emma White to thank for a string of vital interventions, the hosts won a short corner with 50 seconds remaining in extra-time. But Crescent’s delay in setting up their defence saw the final whistle go in the meantime, allowing the hosts to push all 10 outfielders up for the set-piece. They duly took full advantage, switching the ball to Emer O’Driscoll at the back post to score, and set-up a intriguing derby final next Wednesday against near neighbours Coláiste na Toirbhirte. BGS had goalkeeper Emma White to thank for keeping them in touch throughout normal time, as she made a string of great stops in one-on-one situations. But there was little she could do about Kate Flinn’s first-half opener for Crescent. Chances were few and far between for the hosts in the first period, but from their second short corner of the game not long after the break, Kate Murphy made it 1-1 off a perfect pass from captain Olivia Roycoft.

While Crescent looked the more threatening team, White kept the sides even until a melée in the circle saw her wrong-footed by Ciara Nolan to nudge the Limerick girls back in front. But O’Driscoll pegged them back once more from a short corner, and repeated the feat with the final act of the game to ensure history will be made on March 4. While Garryduff was slated as the venue for the final weeks ago, it remains to be seen whether either or both schools will appeal to the Munster Branch to get the game moved to Bandon, to facilitate players and supporters alike. Coláiste na Toirbhirte train at BGS in any case so are familiar with the surroundings, but may not wish to hand any psychological advantage either on the pitch or the sidelines to their opponents. Meanwhile, Bandon Grammar’s senior boys will be looking to emulate their female counterparts when they travel to Villiers in their semi-final today, with a spot in the new  John Waring Cup on offer for the winners. Villiers will go in as obvious underdogs, and have quite a young side with just three of their squad in their final year. Munster U16 goalkeeper Dylan Murphy and U18 representative Roy Harvey are their main stars, though Roger Clarke has been in impressive goalscoring form for Limerick in the senior men’s Division Two this season. Nonetheless, Bandon Grammar will be practically unbackable favourites to advance here, given that 13 of their squad have won representative honours at either U16 or U18 level this year.