J.H.L.(1) Final.
Sun. June 2nd

Blackrock 3 – 07 V Passage 3 – 13 @ Ballinlough.​

 

Report:  Roger Ryan

In a high scoring game at Ballinlough on Sunday morning our Junior 1 Hurlers lost out to Passage by 6 points in the final of the League. Played in brilliant sunshine on a well-appointed pitch, the standard of hurling was excellent throughout and the performance of our boys augurs well for the future of our Club. Playing with great intensity and spirit our boys matched Passage in the goal scoring stakes but they outscored us in points and this made the difference in the end.

In a very evenly contested first half we were trailing by a single point with time almost up when Passage got through for a goal and ended the half with a cushion of 4 points on a score of Rockies 2 – 03, Passage 2 – 07. Passage opened their account with a free and a perfectly placed puckout by Darragh Murphy eventually reached Tom Grainger who promptly dispatched the ball to the back of the net for our first goal. Passage's next point was cancelled by a similar score from Paddy Lynch and James Allen to put us in the lead by 3 points, 1 – 02 to 0 – 02. Passage hit back strongly and with a goal and 3 points, pushed ahead by 3 points. James Allen swapped points with Passage and Fionn O'Keeffe poached a great goal to put us back on level terms at 2 – 03 to 1 – 06. Passage pushed ahead with a point before scrambling a further goal on the stroke of half time, and so it ended on a score of Rockies 2 – 03, Passage 2 – 07.

The intensity dropped somewhat in the second half but both sides kept battling away with both intent on victory. Passage added to their lead with the opening point and Luke Fogarty replied with a similar score for us. Passage then scored their third goal to forge ahead by 7 points 2 – 04 to 3 – 08. Brian Lynch reduced this to 6 points with a free and Passage replied with a point to restore their 7 points lead. Diarmuid Cormack who had just been sprung from the bench burst through the defence for a smashing goal to leave just 4 points between us and enough time on the clock to snatch victory. But Passage had other ideas and with the next 2 points soon had their lead back up to 6 points, 3 – 05 to 3 – 11. Brian Lynch brought it back to 5 with a pointed free, Passage added another point and a further point by Fionn O'Keeffe was followed by a pointed free from Passage to leave them winners by 6 points on a final score of Rockies 3 – 07, Passage 3 – 13.

Scorers: Fionn O'Keeffe 1 – 01, Tom Grainger 1 – 00, Diarmuid Cormack 1 – 00, James Allen 0 – 02(01f), Brian Lynch 0 – 02(02f), Paddy Lynch 0 – 01, Luke Fogarty 0 – 01.

Team: Darragh Murphy, Jack O'Brien, Daea O'Brien, Tom Harrington, Jack O'Sullivan, Ronan Buckley, Robert Cregan, Emmett Sheehan, Brian Lynch, Cian Mc Carthy,

Tom Grainger, Luke Fogarty, Paddy Lynch, Fionn O'Keeffe, James Allen.

Subs Used: Diarmuid Cormack, Peter Cotter, James Ryan.

Referee: Mark Maher.