Senior Hurling Championship

Friday Aug. 4th. 

Blackrock 3 – 20 V Glen Rovers 1 – 18 @ P.Ui Rinn

 Report:  Roger Ryan

Click here for Photos by George Hatchell

Playing the type of hurling we always knew they were capable of ( but haven't seen them play for quite some time) our Senior Hurlers turned in an exciting game of teamwork at Pairc Ui Rinn on Friday night to emerge worthy winners over great great rivals Glen Rovers in the first round of the Premier Senior Hurling Championship. Playing a team that included two debutants at this level, P.J.Linehan and Ollie Mc Adoo both of whom acquitted themselves very well. It's always great to see young players coming through from underage and hopefully there will be many more in the future.

The final scoreline of Rockies 3 – 20, Glen Rovers 1 – 18, tells it's own story, but we didn't have it all our own way, particularly when The Glen came back up at us and levelled the scoring at half time at 0 – 11 each. Robbie Cotter, who was in flying form, opened the scoring with a point for us and went on to bag 2 – 04 in total. The Glen quickly levelled with a point before Dfaniel Meaney, Kevin O' Keeffe and Mark O'Keeffe scored a point each to put us ahead by 3 points 0 – 04 to 0 – 01. The Glen reduced our lead to 3 points with the next score but Daniel Meaney restored our 3 points lead with his second point. The Glen with 3 points on the trot were back on level terms with about 15 minutes on the clock. Mark O'Keeffe, Kevin O'Keeffe and Tadhg Deasy then added a point each to put us 3 ahead again 0 – 08 to 0 – 05. A point by The Glen was soon answered by a similar score from Kevin to keep us ahead by 3. The next point from The Glen was equalled by Mark O'Keeffe but the next 2 points went to The Glen to reduce our lead to the minimum. Robbie pushed that to 2 ahead but The Glen came back strongly and finished out the half with 2 points to level matters once again as the Ref blew for half time.

The Glen opened the scoring in the second half to lead for the first time but this lead was short lived as our boys deepened up and really went to town. Kevin with a free had us back on level terms and the turning point in the game came when we were awarded a penalty and Tadhg Deasy duly obliged with a left-handed piledriver to the corner of the Glen net. This happened just 6 minutes into the second half and put us ahead by 3 points. This was followed up by a point from Tadhg and Robbie to push us ahead by 5 points 1 – 14 to 0 – 12. Patrick Horgan stepped up to take a close in free and went for goal, but our backline stood resolute and saved his effort. Robbie swapped point's with Glen to keep us 5 ahead in the 45th minute. Mark O'Keeffe pushed this to 6 points and Glen reduced it to 5 with the next point. Daniel Meaney exchanged points with Glen to leave the score at 1 – 17 to 0 – 15. In the 49th minute, Robbie Cotter who was causing all sorts of problems for the Glen rearguard, scored his first goal following some great foraging by P.J.Linehan. The scoreboard now read Rockies 2 – 17, Glen 0 – 15 and we began to breathe a little easier. Alan Connolly entered the fray at this point. Glen scored the next 2 points to reduce the lead somewhat but Kevi O'Keeffe and Alan Connolly soon cancelled out those scores with a point each to leave it at 2 – 19 to 0 – 17. The Glen's next point was quickly answered by a similar score from Michael O'Halloran. Robbie Cotter was then set up with a peach of a pass from Alen Connolly to nip and score his second goal to leave it at 3 – 20 to 0 – 18. The Glen did get through for a consolation goal and the Ref blew for full time with Rockies well ahead by 8 points 3 – 20 to 1 – 18. We now play Bishopstown in Round 2 at Pairc Ui Rinn on Sat. Aug. 12th at 3.00pm.

Scorers: Robbie Cotter 2 – 04, Kevin O'Keeffe 0 – 05(02f), Tadhg Deasy 1 – 02(1.00 Pen.), Mark O'Keeffe 0 – 04, Daniel Meaney 0 – 03, Mike O'Halloran 0 – 01(f), Alan Connolly 0 – 01.

Team: Gavin Connolly, Ollie Mc Adoo, John Cashman, Alan O'Callaghan, Cathal Cormack, Ciarán Cormack, Niall Cashman(C), Mark O'Keeffe, Kevin O'Keeffe, Shane O'Keeffe, Michael O'Halloran, P.J.Linehan, Daniel Meaney, Tadhg Deasy, Robbie Cotter.

Subs Used: Alan Connolly.

Referee: Cathal Mc Allister, Aghada,