Sat. April 19th. I.H.L.

Blackrock 2 – 16 V 1 – 21 Russell Rovers @ Church Road.

Report by Roger Ryan

Our Intermediate Hurlers narrowly failed to make it 3 victories for our adult teams when they lost out by 2 points to Russell Rovers at Church Road this afternoon in the Red FM League . Yesterday both the Senior and Junior A teams both won their respective league games.

Russell Rovers were quickly off the mark and were 3 points up before John O'Sullivan registered our first point. Sean Healy added a point and Russell Rovers replied with a point to double their lead 0 – 02 to 0 – 04. John O'Sullivam and Sean Healy tacked on a further point each to draw level. Eoin O'Farrell then swapped points and Ross Browne converted a long rage free to push us ahead by a point, 0 – 06 to 0 – 05. Rovers soon got back on level terms but then John O'Sullivan created a bit of magic, showed a pair of clean heels to the defence, and buried the ball in the et for a superb goal. Rovers came back with a vengeance and not only levelled but went a point ahead with 4 points on the trot, 1 – 06 to 0 – 10. Ciarán Cormack closed out the first half with a point to level scores as the Ref blew the short whistle.

Russell Rovers went 2 ahead and then Brian Lynch swapped points to bring the score to 1 – 08 to 0 – 13. Eoin O'Farrell and John O'Sullivan then levelled matters for us. Eoin O'Farrell (02), John O'Sullivan (1) then pushed us 3 ahead at 1 – 13 to 0 – 13. Rovers reduced our lead to 2 and were then awarded a penalty. We held our breath as Rovers lined up to take the penalty and to our relief Ross save the shot and turned the ball out for a 65 which they converted to come within a point of us at 1 – 13 to 0 – 15. Eoin increased that lead with a point and John O'Sullivan had us 3 ahead with a point. Eoin swapped points with Rovers to retain our 3 points advantage 1 – 16 to 0 – 16. Rovers then scored 1 goal and 4 points to edge ahead by 4. Time was running out but our hopes were raised when we were awarded a penalty which Ross duly buried. The final score, a point, fell to Russell Rovers however to see them win out by 2, 2 – 16 to 1 – 21.

Scorers: John O'Sullivan 1 – 05, Eoin O'Farrell 0 – 06(03f), Ross Browne 1 – 01(01f Pen,), Sean Healy 0 – 02, Ciarán Cormack 0 – 01, Brian Lynch 0 – 01.

Team: Ross Browne, James Ryan, Joe Golden, Darragh Browne, Brian Lynch, Elliot Cantwell. Eoin Smith. Sean Healy, Diarmuid Cormack, Ian O'Keeffe, Ciarán Cormack, Fionn O'Keeffe, John O'Sullivan, Shane O'Keeffe, Eoin O'Farrell.

Subs Used: Scott O'Sullivan, James Allen, Tom Harrington, Luke Fogarty.

Referee: Pat Lyons.