Intermediate Hurling Championship (A) Q/F
Sun. Sept. 22nd

Blackrock 2 – 12 V 1 – 21  Ballygiblin @   Mourneabbey

Report:  Roger ryan

Following a spirited display of fast open hurling, our Intermediate Hurlers ended the first half with a nice lead of 7 points on a score of 2 – 10 to 0 – 07 in the quarter-final of the I.H.C. (A) versus fancied Ballygiblin at Mourneabbey on Sunday afternoon.

The game had barely started when Robert Cregan burst through the defence and blasted home our first goal. He also added a point later in the half and his dismissal in the second half was quite a loss to the team. Eoin O'Farrell pointed a free, followed by an opening point by Ballygiblin to leave it at 1 – 01 to 0 – 01. Our goalie Ross Browne, who had an outstanding game throughout, then scored a mighty pointed free from deep in his own half. An exchange of points between Elliott Cantwell and Ballygiblin and a point by John O'Sullivan were followed by a repeat performance from Ross Browne who pointed again from close to his goal to leave the board reading Rockies 1 – 05, Ballygiblin 0 – 02. Eoin O'Farrell added a point and Ballygiblin struck back with 4 points on the trot, 1 from play and 3 from placed balls. We were then awarded a penalty and up stepped Ross to crash home our second goal, bringing his tally to 1 – 02 and the total score to 2 – 06 to 0 – 05. John O'Sullivan then traded point's, Sean Healy did the same and the board now read 2 – 08 to 0 – 08, still leaving us with a nice lead of 6 points. Robert Cregan and newly introduced Connor Coakley added 1 point each and Ballygiblin closed out the half with a point with the score now at Rockies 2 – 10, Ballygiblin 0 – 09. We did have the advantage of the wind in this half and hoped that our lrad of 7 points would see us through the second half.

However, Ballygiblin had other ideas and emerged a much more determined side for the second half, starting with an early goal, they then followed up with a further 6 points, to not only wipe our lead but to go 2 points ahead 2 – 10 to 1 – 15. A point each by Eoin O'Farrell and Luke 'O Donovan had us back on level terms again at 2 – 12 to 1 – 15, but that was as good as it got for us as Ballygiblin finished with a flourish and closed out the game with the next 6 points leaving the final score reading 2 – 12 to 1 – 21.

And so our gallant Intermediate team bowed out of this year's championship at the quarter-final stage after some sterling performances in the campaign. No doubt we will be back next year with renewed enthusiasm and we look forward to further victories.

Scorers: Ross Browne 1 – 02(1.P. 02f), Robert Cregan 1 – 01, Eoin O;Farrell 0 – 04(02f), John O'Sullivan 0 – 02, Connor Coakley 0 – 01, Luke O'Donovan 0 – 01, Sean Healy 0 – 01.

Team: Ross Browne, Jamie Ryan, Gary Norberg, Richie Laide, Luke O'Donovan, Sean Healy, Elliott Cantwell, Diarmuid Cormack, Lee O'Sullivan Eoin O'Farrell, Ian O'Keeffe, John O'Sullivan, Robert Cregan, Colin O'Leary, Tom Grainger. Subs Used: Connor Coakley, James Walsh, Eoin Coughlan.

Referee: Simon Stokes.