Junior Hurling League (2A)  
Thur. Mar. 21st  2024

Blackrock 0 – 19 V Na Piarsaigh 1 – 11  @ Church Road  @ 20.00.

Report:  Roger ryan

Following a fast and open game of hurling, our Junior Hurlers pulled off an impressive win over Na Piarsaigh @ Church Road tonight, finishing up with a score of 19 points to 1 – 11. The Na Piarsaigh goal which came on the stroke of full-time, helped to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard for them as they had been struggling for scores in the second half. Quite a lot of their scores actually came from frees. Our backline was really tenacious and limited their scores from play throughout the entire game. Our center-field pairing of Scott O'Sullivan and Dan Tyner held sway for the entire game and some strong running by Tyner yielded 2 great points in the second half.

Robert Cregan got us up and running with an opening point, James Allen added a point and Robert repeated his earlier effort to leave us leading by 3 points before Na Piarsaigh opened their account. They then pointed 2 frees to draw level with us at 0 – 03 each. James Allen and Dean Mc Carthy added a point each before Na Piarsaigh came back with a point to leave the score at 0 – 05 to 0 – 04. Brian O'Leary, Peter Cotter and James Allen chipped in with a point each to stretch our lead to 0 – 09 to 0 – 05. Na Piarsaigh with a pointed free had the closing score of the first half to leave the board reading Rockies 0 – 09, Na Piarsaigh 0 – 06.

The second half opened with a great point from Dan Tyner. Paddy Lynch and Luke Fogarty trotted out at that stage to join the game. Nathan Adams had a point to push us ahead by 5 points, and Kevin Morgan was sprung from the bench. A Na Piarsaigh free was answered by a similar score from Nathan, Paddy Lynch had a point, to leave us 6 points ahead at 0 – 13 to 0 – 07. James Allen went for goal with a close-in free which was saved but Nathan pounced on the rebound and put it over the bar to put us ahead by double scores 0 – 14 to 0 b- 07. Greg Maher was introduced to the play at this stage. Peter Cotter's point was answered by a point from Na Piarsaigh and our Goalie Darragh Murphy then scored a long-range free to push us ahead by 8 points but Na Piarsaigh with 2 points reduced that to 6, 0 – 16 to 0 – 10. Dab Tyner had the next point, Na Piarsaigh scored a free, and Nathan converted a free to leave us ahead by 7 points again, 0 – 18 to 0 – 11. Our fifth sub Conor Sweeney entered the fray at this stage. James Allen scored a point and Na Piarsaigh got through for a goal on the stroke of full time to end the game on a score of Rockies 0 – 19, Na Piarsaigh 1 – 11. A great end to a great game.

Scores: James Allen 0 – 05( 01f), Nathan Adams 0 – 04(02f), Peter Cotter 0 – 02, Robert Cregan 0 – 02, Dan Tyner 0 – 02, Dean McCarthy 0 – 01, Brian O'Leary 0 – 01, Paddy Lynch 0 – 01, Darragh Murphy 0 - 01 (f).

Team: Darragh Murphy, Dab Linehan, Joe Boland, Jack O'Brien, Dean McCarthy, Ronan Buckley, Robert Cregan, Scott O'Sullivan, Dan Tyner, James Allen, Peter Cotter, David Garvey, Sean Cormack, Nathan Adams, Brian O'Leary. Subs Used: Paddy Lynch, Luke Fogarty, Kevin Morgan, Greg Maher, Conor Sweeney.

Referee: Canice Walsh, Nemo Rangers.