Intermediate Hurling League
Sat. April 15th
Blackrock 1 – 16 V Blarney 0 – 22 @ Blarney
Report: Roger ryan
Blarney opened the scoring with the first 2 points before Eoin O'Farrell got us up and running with a pointed free. Blarney and Eoin then exchanged points to leave the score at 0 – 2 to 0 – 3. Blarney's next point was soon followed by a similar score by Peter Linehan and another exchange of points between Blarney and Lee O'Sullivan had the score at 0 – 4 to 0 – 5. Blarney pushed ahead by 2 points with their next score but Ross Coleman with a point had us trailing by just 1 point 0 – 5 to 0 – 6 but Blarney scored again to to restore their 2 points advantage 0 – 5 to 0 – 7. Eoin O'Farrell pointed a free to reduce that lead to the minimum and Ryan Sweeney then brought us level with his point 0 – 7 to 0 – 7 Eoin O'Farrell edged us ahead with a pointed free and Ryan Sweeney then pounced for a great goal to push us ahead by 4 points 1 – 08 to 0 – 7, with 25 minutes on the clock. A pointed free by Blarney followed by a similar score by Eoin O'Farrell restored our 4 points advantage as the Ref. Blew the half-time whistle with the score reading Rockies 1 – 09, Blarney 0 – 08.
Blarney came out in the second half with all guns blazing and in less than 10 minutes not only wiped out our 4 points lead but went 3 points ahead with 7 points on the trot. Eoin O'Farrell reduced their lead with a pointed free but Blarney replied with a point to leave the score now at Rockies 1 – 11, Blarney 0 – 17. Tom Grainger chipped in with a point to reduce that lead to 2 points but Blarney with the next 2 points on the trot extended their lead to 4 points again 1 – 12 to 0 – 19. Our next point came from a free by Eoin O'Farrell but Blarney replied with 2, 1 from play and 1 from a free to extend their lead to 5 points 1 – 13 to 0 – 21. We introduced Dave Kenny in to the fray at this stage. Eoin reduced the deficit to 4 points with a well taken free and Luke Kiely came on as a sub. Peter Linehan reduced the lead to 3 points with a point and with the clock now showing 25 mins. elapsed, Eoin further reduced their lead with a pointed free. Blarney replied with a point to restore their 3 points advantage, and in a welter of excitement during which we struck the upright and had 2 attempts at goal saved, the Ref. blew for full time with Blarney holding on to their 3 points lead 1 – 16 to 0 – 22.
Overall this was a commendable performance by our boys which deserved at least a share of the spoils, but this was not to be, and Blarney's opening 7 points blitz to the second half was instrumental in getting them over the line.
Scorers: Eoin O'Farrell 0 – 10 (10f), Ryan Sweeney 1 – 01, Peter Linehan 0 – 02, Lee O'Sullivan 0 – 01, Ross Coleman 0 – 01, Tom Grainger 0 – 01.
Team: Ross Browne, Kevin Morgan, Connor Coakley, Killian Buckley, Darragh Browne, Luke O'Donovan, Ross Coleman, Emmett Sheehan, Lee O'Sullivan, Eoin O'Farrell, Ryan Sweeney, P.J. Linehan, Tom Grainger, Paul Bennett, Eoin Coughlan. Subs Used: Dave Kenny and Luke Kiely.
Referee: Brendan Barry Murphy.