J.H.L.-2A   

April 8th 2025

Blackrock 2 – 18 V 2 – 11 Na Piarsaigh @ Church Road.

Report by Roger Ryan

Following a lively and well-contested game of hurling, our Junior hurlers overcame a strong challenge from Na Piarsaigh to claim victory by 7 points, 2 – 18 to 2 – 11.

Hugh Espy set us on our way with an opening point and when Na Piarsaigh levelled, Peter Cotter soon had us ahead again with a point. Na Piarsaigh then scored a goal, but we were soon back on level terms again thanks to a point each from Luke Fogarty and Peter Cotter, 0 – 04 to 1 – 01. Na Piarsaigh pushed ahead by a point with a well taken 65 but that was the last time that they would for the remainder of the game. First Peter Cotter, then James Allen followed by Luke Fogarty, with a point each soon had us ahead by 2 points, 0 – 07 to 1 – 02. Our goalie Paul O'Brien stretched our lead with a magnificent pointed free from way back in his own area. Darragh Browne increased our lead with the next point and Barry Grainger chipped over 2 points to stretch our lead to 6 points, 0 – 11 to 1 – 02. With half time approaching, David Garvan breached the Na Piarsaigh for a goal and Barry Grainger closed out the half with his third point, to leave the half time score at Rockies 1 – 12, Na Piarsaigh 1 – 02. our scorers in this half were, David Garvan 1 – 00, Peter Cotter 0 – 03, Barry Grainger 0 – 03, Luke Fogarty 0 – 02, Hugh Espey 0 – 01, James Allen 0 – 01, Paul O'Brien 0 – 01(65), Darragh Browne 0 – 01.

Na Piarsaigh started the second half with a flourish and scored 3 points on the trot but these were soon cancelled out when Peter Cotter soloed through the defence and planted the sliothar in the back of the net for our second goal, 2 – 12 to 1 – 05. Peter then swapped points with Na Piarsaigh. Barry Grainger did likewise to leave the score at 2 – 14 to 1 – 07. Jack O'Farrell then tacked on a point, Na Piarsaigh replied and Hugh Espey with a point put us on double scores, 2 – 16 to 1 – 08. The mentors decided to introduce some subs at this stage Conor Sweeney, Eoin Browne, Cormac Casey, Colm Crowley and Craig Cahill joined the fray. Na Piarsaigh added a point, and Darren Griffin, David Walsh, Tomás Magee, and Manoj Kumar all trotted out of the bench. Na Piarsaigh scored a late goal and Paul O'Brien brought game to a close with another magnificent pointed free to leave the score3 at Rockies 2 * 18, Na Piarsaigh 2 – 11.

Scorers: Peter Cotter 1 – 04, Barry Grainger 0 – 04, David Garvan 1 – 00, Hugh Espey 0 – 02, Luke Fogarty 0 – 02, Paul O'Brien 0 – 02(F), James Allen 0 – 01, Darragh Browne 0 – 01, Jack O'Farrell 0 – 01, Eoin Browne 0 – 01.

Team: Paul O'Brien, Sean Cormack, Ronan Buckley, Joey Boland, Darragh Browne, Kevin Morgan, Scott O'Sullivan, Hugh Espey, Jack O'Farrell, Luke Fogarty, Paddy Lynch, Peter Cotter, David Garvan, James Allen Barry Grainger. 

Subs Used: Conor Sweeney, Eoin Browne, Cormac Casey, Colm Crowley, Craig Cahill, Darren Griffin, David Walsh, Tomás Magee, Manoj Kumar.

Referee: Cormac Dineen.