Red FM Senior Hurling League

Sun. March 24th. 

Rockies 1 – 15 V Fr.O'Neills 0 – 14. 

Report:  Roger Ryan

Our Senior Hurlers travelled to East Cork this morning and picked up their first brace of league points at the expense of the local team, Fr. O'Neills. The pitch was well prepared and thankfully the rain held off.

Starting brightly, Daniel Meaney pounced on the throw-in and scored our first point. Fr. O'Neills levelled from a free before Kevin O'Keeffe pushed us ahead again with a point. Fionn Coleman extended our lead with a point and when Fr O'Neiils replied with a point, Fionn again scored a point to leave the score at Rockies 0 – 04, Fr.O'Neills 0 – 02. Fr.O'Neil's (free) scored a point, Ryan Sweeney and Kevin O'Keeffe with a point each had us ahead on double scores 0 – 06 to 0 – 03. Fr. O'Neills reduced our lead to 2 points but Kevin (f) and Dan Meaney had a point each to extend our lead to 4 points, 0 – 08 to 0 – 04. Fr. O'Neills with 3 on the trot left the minimum between us and Kevin closed out the half with a point to leave the board reading Rockies 0 – 09, Fr.O'Neills 0 – 07. Scorers in this half were: 0 - 04, Daniel Meaney 0 – 0 2, Fionn Coleman 0 – 02, Ryan Sweeney 0 – 01.

P.J.Linehan entered the fray for the second half. Ciarán Cormack, who had a very solid game, opened the scoring for the second half. Fr.O'Neills replied with a similar score and Niall Cashman, with a mighty long-range point, had us 3 ahead again. Fionn Coleman then cantered towards goal and when an easy point seemed an option, he found the corner of the net for a smashing goal. This was just 5 minutes into the second half and things were looking good for us. Fr.O'Neills next point was equalled by a point from Ian O'Keeffe and Eoin O'Farrell was introduced to the fray. Our lead was cut to 4 points when Fr.O'Neills scored the next 2 points (1 – 12 to 0 – 11) and Tom Grainger came on as a sub. The lead was cut to 3 and Kevin scored from a 65 to bring it back to 4 again. P.J.Linehan exchanged points to retain our 4 points advantage but Fr.O'Neills scored from a free to get within 3 points of us with time running out. For the remaining time Fr.O'Neills went in search of the equalising goal, but our backline repulsed all their efforts and Ryan Sweeney ensured victory with the last point to leave us 4 ahead on a closing score of Rockies 1 – 15, Fr/O'Neills 0 – 14.

Scorers: Fionn Coleman 1 – 02, Kevin O'Keeffe 0 – 05(01f+1x65) , Daniel Meaney 0 – 02, Ryan Sweeney 0 – 02, Ciarán Cormac, Niall Cashman, Ian O'Keeffe, P.J.Linehan all 01 each.

Team: Gavin Connolly, Lee O'Sullivan, Gary Norberg, Jamie Ryan, Ciarán Cormack, Cathal Cormack, Niall Cashman, Daniel Meaney, John O'Sullivan, Kevin O'Keeffe, Ian O'Keeffe, Fionn Coleman, Shane O'Keeffe, Ryan Sweeney. Subs Used: P.J.Linehan, Eoin O'Farrell, Tom Grainger.

Referee: Niall O'Neill, Midleton.