Red FM Intermediate Hurling League
Fri. May 31st

Blackrock 1 – 18 V Valley Rovers 1 – 16 @ Church Road.​

Report:  Roger ryan

Our Intermediate Hurlers had to dig deep to overcome the strong challenge of Valley Rovers at Church Road on Friday evening and gain 2 very valuable league points. Played in brilliant sunshine on a pristine surface, the game was in doubt right up to the final minute.

Trailing by 2 points at half time on a score of 0 – 08 to 1 – 07, our boys never gave up and finished the game in a blaze of glory to emerge winners by 2 points. John O'Sullivan got us up and running with an early point and when Valley Rovers replied with 2 points, Luke Fogarty and Eoin O'Farrell put us back in front again with 1 point each. Eoin with another point put us on double scores at 0 – 04 to 0 – 02 but Valley Rovers struck for an early goal to lead by 1 point. Ryan Sweeney got us back on level terms and the Valley then scored 2 more points to push ahead by 2 points, 0 – 05 to 1 – 04. Fionn Coleman with a point had us back to within a point of them. Eoin O'Farrell then swapped points with them to leave just the minimum between us but Valley Rovers had the next 2 points to forge ahead by 3, 0 – 07 to 1 – 07. Lee O'Sullivan reduced their lead to 2 with a point for us and the Ref blew half time with the scoreboard reading Rockies 0 – 08, Valley Rovers 1 – 07.

John O'Sullivan was again first to score in the second half with a point but Valley Rovers with 3 points on the trot went ahead by 4 points 0 – 09 to 1 – 10. P.J.Linehan's point was matched by Eoin O'Farrell to cut their lead to 2 points but they hit back with the next point to lead by 3 points. Eoin's next point was matched by a point from Valley to leave it at 0 – 12 to 1 – 12. At this point our boys really upped the pressure and 1 point each from Ian O'Keeffe, Lee O'Sullivan, Eoin O Farrell, Ryan Sweeney and Ian again, had us ahead by 2 points, 0 – 17 to 1 – 13. Valley Rovers set about reducing the lead and with the next 3 unanswered points actually went ahead by 1 point, 0 – 17 to 1 – 15. In a welter of excitement, James Walsh went on a defence splitting run and crashed home our much needed goal to put us in the lead again by 2 points with full time looming. Valley Rovers reduced our lead to the minimum with a point but Fionn Coleman replied with a similar score to maintain our our 2 points advantage. With time almost up, there remained only one score for Valley Rovers if they were to win, but try as they might, they to penetrate our solid defence and we were all on our feet shouting with excitement as Brian Coniry blew for full time. This was the best performance our boys have given to date and it was a great achievement to beat Valley Rovers who are in second place in this league table.

Scorers; Eoin O'Farrell 0 – 06(05f), James Walsh 1 – 00, John O'Sullivan 0 – 02, Ryan Sweeney 0 – 02, Fionn Coleman 0 – 02, Lee O'Sullivan 0 – 02, Ian O'Keeffe 0 – 02, Luke Fogarty 0 – 01, P.J.Linehan 0 – 01.

Team: Ross Browne, Tom Harrington, Joe Golden, Jamie Ryan, Luke O'Donovan, Lee O'Sullivan, Robert Cregan, P.J.Linehan, Ryan Sweeney, John O'Sullivan, Ian O'Keeffe,

Eoin O'Farrell ( C ), Tom Grainger, Fionn Coleman, Luke Fogarty.

Subs Used: Jack O'Brien, James Walsh, Kevin Morgan.