Junior B Hurling Championship.  

Sept 7th, 2025

Blackrock 3-14 Lough Rovers 0-14 @ Ballinlough 

Report By Peter Devine:

A tremendous final quarter saw a brilliant team effort finally come together and qualify for the semi-final of the Seandun junior B championship.

The game began with an early Lough Rovers point, quickly followed by Vaughan Ryan equalizing. Then Lough Rovers took control for a period adding the next three points. BrianO’Leary and Barry Grainger replied with points to cut the gap to the minimum. Lough Rovers scored next to open a two-point gap, but Brian O’Leary with two points of his own, one from a free, equalized for the second time. Twice more before the break the sides were level, Peter Cotter and Brian O’Leary pointed, leaving the half time score at seven points each.

Scores were hard to come by for both sides, with most of the Lough scores coming from frees. They conceded most of their frees in the Blackrock end of the field.

The second half began in disastrous fashion for Blackrock. Lough Rovers were in control for the first quarter, first to every ball and going back in front after two minutes from another free. They then extended the lead with four more points before Vaughan Ryan pointed for Blackrock. Immediately the Lough replied with a point to go five points up. During this period, the selectors made a few telling positional changes which soon bore fruit. Great team work in the forward line led to Brian O’Leary scoring a magnificent goal to ignite the fight back.

Within the next three minutes he added two more points to level the game again. Lough Rovers, from the puck out, mounted an attack cutting right through the Blackrock defence, almost scoring a goal. Only for David O’Shea diving to make a brilliant save. This seemed to inspire the whole team. From that point to the end, Blackrock were in complete control. Conor Sweeney pointed next to put the Rockies in front for the first time. Half-time substitute Peter Leneghan added a goal, followed by another Brian O’Leary point. Keeping up the pressure, a goalmouth scramble, ended with Blackrock earning a penalty, in which David O’Shea fired home our third goal. Vaughan Ryan and Brian O’Leary then added points to secure a semi-final spot against Na Piarsaigh.

The most pleasing aspect of the game is that despite the poor start to the second half, they never gave up, fought hard and showed great spirit. In defence Conor Long, Aonghus O’Drisceoil, Rory Harrington and company put in a huge effort, while up front Brian O’Leary was magnificent.

Team: David O’Shea(1-0); Cormac Casey, Conor Long, Lorcan de Búrca; Peter Mullane, Aonghus O’Drisceoil, Rory Harrington; Hugh Espey, Peter Cotter(0-1); Barry Grainger(0-1), Vaughan Ryan(0-3), Conor Sweeney(0-1); Ronan Lydon, Brian O’Leary(1-8), Dave Garvan.

Subs:- Peter Leneghan(1-0); Seán Riordan; Darren Griffen.