Junior Hurling Championship  (B)   S/F

Thur. Oct. 9th. 

Blackrock 1 – 17 V Na Piarsaigh 1 – 14   @ Church Road.

Report: Roger Ryan

In the semi-final of the championship played under lights at Church Road on Thursday evening, our Junior B Hurlers finished with a flourish to overcome a strong Na Piarsaigh side and will now play the final at Ballinlough on Saturday Oct. 18th @ 13.45.

The opening half proved to be a very evenly contested affair with the teams level on four occasions and finishing all square at 0 – 08 to 0 – 08. Our scorers in this half were, Brian O'Leary 0 – 04, Rory O'Shaughnessy 0 – 02, David O'Shea 0 – 01, Emmet Sheehan 0 – 01.

Na Piarsaigh surged ahead with two quick points in the second half before Rory O'Shaughnessy had our first point. Na Piarsaugh replied with a point to retain a 2 point lead. This lead was quickly erased when Brian O'Leary got through for a great goal to push us ahead on a score of Rockies 1 – 09. Na Piarsaigh 0 – 11. Na Piarsaigh's levelling point was quickly followed by a point from Riain Ó Riordán to keep us ahead. Na Piarsaigh's next point brought parity once again but thanks to a point from Ronan Lydon followed by a point from Brian O'Leary, we edged in front again, 1 – 12 to 0 – 13. A goal by Na Piarsaigh had them leading again by the minimum, 1 – 12 to 1 – 13. A further point by Na Piarsaigh soon had them 2 points ahead with time running out. But our boys weren't finished yet, far from it. Calling on their hidden reserves they roared back into the game. Rory O'Shaughnessy led the charge with a surge up-field and a great point followed by a similar score from Adam O'Callagahan soon had us back on level terms yet again. 

There was a general feeling that the game was going to extra time, but our boys were having none of it and 2 points by Brian O'Leary followed by a closing point from Adam O'Callaghan soon had us 3 points ahead as the Ref blew for full time. The scoreboard made nice reading, Blackrock 1 – 17, Na Piarsaigh 1 – 14. We now play Brian Dillons in the final at Ballinlough on Sat. Oct. 18th @ 13.45.

Brian O'Leary was as busy as a beaver at corner forward and finished the game with an impressive tally of 1 – 07. Rory O'Shaughnessy's exciting surges up-field were a joy to behold and this, coupled with an overall gutsy performance by the entire team, gives us great hope for the future. Hopefully a large crowd will turn up at Ballinlough on Saturday Oct. 18th to support them in the final V Brian Dillons.

Scorers: Brian O'Leary 1 – 07(05f), Rory O'Shaughnessy 0 – 04, Adam O'Callaghan 0 – 02, Emmett Sheehan 0 – 01, Riain Ó Riordán 0 – 01,

Ronan Lydon 0 – 01. Davi O'Shea 0 – 01(f).

Team: David O'Shea, Conor Long, Joe Golden, Peter Mullane, Rory Harrington, Andrew Murphy, Riain Ó Riordfán, Aenghus Ó Drisceoil,

Emmett Sheehan, Conor Sweeney, Rory O'Shaughnessy, Lorcan De Búrca, Ronan Lydon, Peter Cotter, Brian O'Leary. 

Subs Used; Adam O'Callaghan, Oscar Mc Carthy, Cormac Casey.

Referee; Cathal Egan, Glen Rovers.