Tues. May 12th. SHL 

 Blackrock 0 – 21 V 2 – 20 Midleton @ Midleton.

Report by Roger Ryan

Played on a well-appointed pitch in Midleton, this game was really competitive from start to finish with some excellent points scored by both sides. Midleton were quickest out of the blocks and had scored 4 points before Michael O'Halloran had our first point. Midleton's 5th point was answered by a point each from Niall Cashman and Michael O'Halloran. Midleton then scored their first goal to push ahead by 5 points (0 – 03 to 1 – 05). Niall Cashman and Ryan Sweeney soon had it back to 3 again with 1 point each. Midleton's next point was answered by a long-range effort from Kevin O'Keeffe and when they scored their next point this too was equalled by Ryan Sweeney who scored from a 65. With 20 minutes on the clock Midleton tacked on a further point followed by their second goal to surge ahead by 7 points 0 – 07 to 2 – 08. Ryan Sweeney reduced their lead to 6 with a point but Midleton replied with a further 3 points to extend their lead to 9 points 0 – 8 to 2 – 11. Kevin O'Keeffe closed out the remaining time with 3 excellent points for us to reduce their lead to a manageable 6 points with the prospects of playing with the wind in the second half.

Midleton were first to score in the second half but that was answered by a point from Niall Cashman who was performing heroically at centre back. Gavin Connolly followed this with a mighty long distance free to bring the score to 0 – 13 to 2 – 2 – 12. Midleton and Niall then swapped points, Michael O'Halloran traded a point with Midleton and Midleton's next point was answered by 2 points from Kevi O'Keeffe and a point from Daniel Meaney. The scoreboard now read Rockies 0 – 17, Midleton 2 – 14 as we approached the 45 minute mark. Midleton increased their lead to 6 points with the next 3 scores (0 – 17 to 2 – 17). Michael O'Halloran brought it back to 5 with a point but Midleton with 2 points pushed it back up again to 7 before Michael O'Halloran added a point for us to leave it at 0 – 19 to 2 – 19.

Midleton's final point was followed by a Fionn Coleman point and one from Sean Healy to bring the game to a close with Midleton ahead by 5 points, 0 – 21 to 2 – 20.

The 2 goals scored by Midleton in the first half proved to be the difference between us in the end as all through our boys matched them score for score and on at least three occasions we were thorough for a goal only to be denied by the excellent goalkeeping of Brion Saunderson.

Scorers: Kevin O'Keeffe 0 – 06(01f), Michael O'Halloran 0 – 06(03f, 01-65), Ryan Sweeney 0 – 03(01-6+5), Niall Cashman 0 – 02, Gavin Connolly 0 – 01(f), Daniel Meaney 0 – 01, Fionn Coleman 0 – 01(f), Sean Healy 0 – 01.

Team: Gavin Connolly, Jamie Ryan, Cathal Cormack, Diarmuid Cormack, Stephen Murphy, Niall Cashman, Mark O'Keeffe, David O'Farrell, Kevin O'Keeffe, Fionn Coleman, Ciarán Cormack, Daniel Meaney, P.J. Linehan, Michael O'Halloran, Ryan Sweeney.

Subs Used: Sean Healy, Ian O'Keeffe, Ollie Mc Adoo, Lee O'Sullivan, Fionn O'Keeffe.

Referee: Simon Stokes, Tullylease