# SAFC: Can youthful Bishopstown make a splash this year?
EchoLive.ie, 14 Aug


   City club have made steady progress over the last few years
   SAFC: Can youthful Bishopstown make a splash this year?

   Bishopstown's Michael Nunan crashes the ball to the Clyda Rovers net as
   Patrick Ryan closes in during their SAFC clash at Blarney. Picture:
   David Keane
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   Barry O'Mahony

   Since Bishopstown got relegated from the top flight of the Cork
   football championship in 2020, they have failed to make an impression
   in the SAFC.

   In fact, the city club had to beat Bantry Blues in their first season
   down in the second grade to stay up and even though they have failed to
   qualify for the knockout stages in the last two seasons, steady
   progress has been made.

   They were desperately unlucky not to make it through in 2022 when they
   missed out on scoring difference to Knocknagree despite beating the
   Duhallow outfit earlier in the group stage. It was a three-way tie so
   in that situation scoring difference comes into play.

   Bishopstown had another opportunity of finishing in the top two for the
   first time since the restructuring of the championships in 2020 in the
   last campaign. On the back of a strong league season where they
   narrowly missed out on Division 3 promotion, the Town defeated Ilen
   Rovers on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-4 in the first group game before
   being given a reality check by the eventual beaten finalists Dohenys as
   they lost 2-15 to 1-10.

   Bishopstown's Kevin Murphy in action last year against Dohenys.
   Picture: Denis Boyle Bishopstown's Kevin Murphy in action last year
   against Dohenys. Picture: Denis Boyle

   It all came down to the last group outing against Newcestown who would
   go on and win the county. A youthful Bishopstown team were unable to
   rise to the occasion as Newcestown were just far too slick and
   experienced, winning in the end 1-19 to 2-10.

   There was surprise from a few within the club when the experienced Mick
   Hannon left his role as manager in the close season. A selector under
   Bobbie O’Dwyer when Cork won the All-Ireland MFC title in 2019, Hannon
   is a very knowledge and streetwise character and most certainly did
   improve Bishopstown during his time in charge in what was always going
   to be a rebuilding job with a young squad at his disposal.

   The city club decided to go in the other direction for their next boss.
   Mark Driscoll, who would be considered very young in managerial terms
   at 32 years of age, has taken to it like a duck to water. They had a
   solid Division 3 football league campaign, collecting 10 points from
   nine games, four points off the promotion spots.

   But, as we all know, it's the championship where you're judged and
   Bishopstown won a pressure game in their opening group game three weeks
   ago when they got the better of Clyda Rovers, 2-8 to 0-11. It was a
   test of Bishopstown’s mettle given they have one of the youngest teams
   in the SAFC.

   Bishopstown's Brian Clifford is tackled by Clyda Rovers' Cian
   O'Sullivan during their SAFC clash at Blarney. Picture: David Keane
   Bishopstown's Brian Clifford is tackled by Clyda Rovers' Cian
   O'Sullivan during their SAFC clash at Blarney. Picture: David Keane

   The Town have some exciting players in the likes of Conor Dunne, Kevin
   Murphy, Michael Nunan and Kieran McFadden. 18-year-old Patrick Casey
   made his debut the last day against Clyda Rovers.

   Bishopstown are in the middle of the road when it comes to the odds on
   winning the title and that's probably about right. They face Newmarket
   in their second group outing on Saturday in Mourneabbey at 5pm and we
   will get a better indicator as to where Bishopstown are truly at after
   that one.

   That is followed by another Duhallow club in the shape of Knocknagree
   on Sunday, September 15 in Clondrohid at 2pm.

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