Intermediate Hurling League
Tues. March 28th 

Blackrock 1 - 18 V Kilworth 1 - 17  @ Kilworth

Report:  Roger ryan

Our Intermediate Hurlers achieved a hat-trick of victories with a hard-earned, but well deserved win over Kilworth in the Red FM (Div 3) League @ Kilworth on Tuesday evening. Played under lights on a pitch which needed a cut but the local club were unable to bring machinery on to the pitch due to the recent spell of bad weather, our boys coped well, and following a great hour's hurling, emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins 1 - 18 to Kilworth 1 - 17. Thankfully the rain held off and both teams went at it helter skelter from the off. 


Kilworth opened the scoring with a point but this was soon wiped out when Tom Grainger pounced for a great goal. Eoin O'Farrell added to this with a point before Kilworth came back with a pointed free to leave the score at Rockies 1 - 01, Kilworth 0 - 02. David O'Farrell with a point gave us a 3 point lead. Kilworth reduced the lead by a point and Kevin O'Keeffe and Tom Grainger with a point each then put us ahead by 4 points 1 - 04 to 0 - 03.Kilworth's next point was quickly answered by Oliver Mc Adoo to restore our 4 point advantage 1 - 05 to 0 - 04. Kilworth then halved our lead with the next 2 points but Kevin soon had us back on track again with 2 points on the trot ( 1 - 07 to 0 - 06 ). Kilwoth again replied with the next 2 points, before Kevin added a point for us to leave us 3 points ahead 1 - 08 to 0 - 08. Ian O'Keeffe stretched our lead further with a point but Kilworth reduced it to 3 with a converted free. Andrew Murphy then got into the scoring list with a point and Kilworth closed out the first half with a point to leave the half-time score at Rockies 1 - 10, Kilworth 0 - 10.

Following a skirmish in the Rockies backline, the Ref. awarded a penalty to the home side which Ross saved brilliantly but the clearance broke to one of the forwards who lashed it to the net to bring the score back to parity 1 - 10 to 1 - 10. Kilworth went ahead then by a point but Kevin soon levelled with a well taken free. A converted free then had the local team ahead by a point. This lead was short lived though as Kevin with the next 2 points had us ahead again 1 - 13 to 1 - 12. Kilworth with 2 points of their own, edged ahead again, but 2 from Kevin had our noses back in front again. With the clock reading 50 minutes elapsed, Kilworth levelled again at 1 - 15 each but thanks to the accuracy of Kevin we had the next point from a 65. The pace was certainly hotting up at this stage with both sides hell bent on victory. Kilworth were soon back on level terms again with a point before Ryan Sweeney edged us ahead with a point 1 - 17 to 1 - 16. With time running out, Kilworth made a surge for victory and got back on level terms with a point from play . They were then awarded a sideline cut about 70 metres out, but following a schmozzle, the Ref reversed the decision and threw in the ball instead. In a frantic scramble for the sliothar, the ball eventually ended up in the hands of Kevin O'Keeffe who opened up his broad shoulders and with one mighty stroke drove the sliothar straight over the bar to the relief and delight of players and mentors alike. Kilwoth did have time for one more surge but their efforts were repulsed by our resolute defenders and we were on the attack again when the Ref decided to call it a day, with the score at Rockies 1 - 18, Kilworth 1 - 17. 

This was a great overall team performance and needed every player to be on his game to come away with a win. Ross was again outstanding in goal and couldn't be blamed for the one that passed him. He was well protected by the full line trio of Richie Laide, Eoin Smith and Conor Coakley. The half line of Andrew Murphy, Ciarán Cormac and Luke O'Donovan kept a tight rein on their opposite numbers and luke ,made some great forays out of the backline. David O'Farrell and Oliver Mc Adoo worked tirelessly at centre field and also contributed to the scoring sheet. The entire forward sextet of Eoin O'Farrell, Kevin O'Keeffe, Ian O'Keeffe, Lee O'Sullivan, Ryan Sweeney and Tom Grainger worked tirelessly and their combined efforts brought about a resounding victory and our third win on the trot in this competition. 


Scorers: Kevin O'Keeffe 0 - 11(8f, 1-.65), Tom Grainger 1 - 01, Eoin O'Farrell 0 - 01, David O'Farrell 0 - 01, Oliver Mc Adoo 0 - 01, Ian O'Keeffe 0 - 01, Andrew Murphy 0 - 01, Ryan Sweeney 0 - 01.


Team: Ross Browne, Richie Laide (C), Eoin Smith, Conor Coakley, Andrew Murphy, Ciarán Cormack, Luke O'Donovan, David O'Farrell, Oliver Mc Adoo, Eoin O'Farrell, Kevin O'Keeffe, Ian O'Keeffe, Lee O'Sullivan, Ryan Sweeney, Tom Grainger. Subs Used: Ross Coleman, Cillian Buckley, Luke Kiely.


Referee: Ciarán Murphy, Glanworth.