Bishopstown minor footballers driven on by the return of Larry Tompkins: 'A brilliant coach, he puts everything into it'

Bishopstown boss Pat Cuthbert believes his side will have to play their very best to have a decent chance of overcoming Éire Óg in tonight's Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC quarter-final.

MTU Cork is the venue with throw-in at 8pm. The teams met in the group stage just under three weeks ago when Éire Óg won on a scoreline of 3-7 to 1-11 in Ovens.

The two sides and also Glanmire finished on four points, so a quarter-final had to be required to determine who advances to the semi-final with Glanmire getting the bye.

Both Bishopstown and Éire Óg are coming into this contest later on today on the back of contrasting results last time out. Bishopstown dug deep to defeat Carrigaline by a point. On the other hand, Éire Óg lost to Glanmire by two points having looked like the likely winners for the majority.

“We are still alive and kicking,” Cuthbert says.

Bishopstown's Eamon Walsh in action against Ethan Hyde of Éire Óg in July. Picture: Jim Coughlan

“The season has been a rollercoaster so far. Our league campaign was up and down. The championship then, our first group game against Éire Óg was called off early due to an injury to James Healy. I am delighted he’s on the mend and will be back soon enough.

“We beat Glanmire, lost to Éire Óg and then the last day out had to beat Carrigaline to stay in the championship. With two minutes to go, we were gone because we were drawing. Thankfully we got the last score. The referee then played seven minutes of added time which seemed like a lifetime, but we hung on for the win.

“The lads played very well especially in the closing stages. We were delighted with them. They put in a great performance to stay in the championship.”

Bishopstown are coached by Cork football legend Larry Tompkins. He kicked every ball on the sideline two weeks ago against Carrigaline.

“Larry Tompkins is a brilliant coach, we missed him at the start of the year," the Town boss states.

Bishopstown and Carrigaline players contest the dropping ball two weeks ago. Picture: Noel Sweeney

“People know that he was a little bit ill. He came back for the championship. His key message to the players has been to battle to the end and that has worked so far especially down in Carrigaline. They are a very good team.

“Larry has been with the minor team for the last few years and the amount of work he has put into it, you just wouldn’t understand. He really puts everything into it. A real leader. We are thrilled to have him involved.

"I was delighted for him after the Carrigaline game after the year he has had. I went straight to him after the game.”

Cork football legend Larry Tompkins. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Both Bishopstown and Éire Óg know each other very well at this stage. A place in the last four is the prize for the winners. The Town made the semi-finals last year only to lose to Mallow.

“For our three group games this year, we have changed our team every time. I feel we are getting better. There are more lads coming back from injury too, which is giving us more options going into this Éire Óg game. We just have to get that mix right.

“We know Éire Óg inside out and they know us inside out. They are a superb side. We were ahead out in Ovens in the group game a few weeks ago and they came back and beat us.

Jack Tompkins, son of Larry Tompkins, in action for Bishopstown minors last season. Picture: Larry Cummins

“We had no complaints with the result. We know that we have to play very well to come out with a win in this latest one. We think we have learnt a lot from the Éire Óg defeat. We changed a few things around for the Carrigaline game based on the display against Éire Óg.

“What I have found over the years with the minor age group and especially this year, the performance levels go up and down.

"You can never really judge what’s going to happen until the ball is thrown-in. You are just hoping the lads perform to their best and you can’t ask for much more than that.” Cuthbert concluded.

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