Senior Hurling League
Sun. April 30th. 2023
Blackrock 3 – 20 V Kanturk 1 – 21 @ Kanturk
Report: Roger Ryan
The early risers who travelled to Kanturk on Sunday morning witnessed a very impressive display by our Senior Hurlers who defeated the local team in the Red FM League on an impressive score of 3 – 20 to 1 – 21.
Kevin O'Keeffe with the first 3 points got us off to a good start before the home team scored the next 2 points. Robbie Cotter, Alan O'Callaghan and Tadhg Deasy then added a point each to edge us ahead by 4 points 0 – 06 to 0 – 02. Kanturk and Kevin exchanged points to keep us 4 ahead. Kanturk then converted a penalty to reduce our lead to a slender 1 point before adding 2 more from play to edge ahead by 1 point 0 – 07 to 1 – 05. Kevin levelled matters with a free and then Tadhg put the icing on the cake with a terrific goal. It was now 1 – 08 to 1 – 05 and this was reduced again when Kanturk scored the next point. Tom Grainger then came to our rescue when he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the square and blasted it to the net giving us some breathing space with the scoreboard now reading Rockies 2 – 08, Kanturk 1 – 06.Kevin then exchanged points with them to leave it at 2 – 09 to 1 – 06. Kanturk had the next point but Kevin replied with a similar score to give us a lead of 6 points 2 – 01 to 1 – 07. With the half time approaching Kanturk had the last say with a point and so the board read Rockies 2 – 10, Kanturk 1 – 08.
The O'Keeffe brothers Ian and Mark got us off to a flying start in the second half with 1 point each. Kanturk added 1 point but this was soon answered by Kevin and Tadhg with 1 point each to leave the score at 2 – 14 to 1 – 09. Kanturk's next point was equalled by a similar score by Fionn Coleman and Conor O'Brien to leave the score at Rockies 2 – 16, Kanturk 1 – 10. Kanturk with the next 4 points reduced our lead to 5 points but this increased further when Kevin sent over a point for us, 2 – 17 to 1 – 14. Kanturk added a point from a free before Kevin with 2 on the trot pushed us 7 points ahead 2 – 19 to 1 – 15. Kanturk had the next 2 points to reduce our lead to 5 points but Robbie Cotter diverted a high ball away from 2 defenders and struck a mighty shot to the back of the net to push us ahead by 8 points 3 – 19 to 1 – 17. Kanturk sensing that time was running out went on a spree and scored 4 unanswered points to bring it back to 3 – 19 to 1 – 21 but that was as good as it got for them and young James Walsh saw the game out with the last point to leave the board reading Rockies 3 – 20, Kanturk 1 – 21 as we headed home to prepare for the game down in the park Cork V Waterford. Needless to say, it was an enjoyable journey home as we discussed the merits of an enjoyable morning out in Kanturk.
Team. Gavin Connolly, Connor Coakley, Andrew Murphy, Conor O'Brien, Luke O'Donovan, Tadhg Deasy, Alan O'Callaghan, Mark O'Keeffe, Robbie Cotter, Fionn Coleman, Kevin O'Keeffe, Ian O'Keeffe, Peter Linehan, Shane O'Keeffe, Tom Grainger. Subs Used: Lee O'Sullivan, James Walsh.
Scorers: Kevin O'Keeffe 0 – 11(07f), Tadhg Deasy 1 – 02, Robbie Cotter 1 – 01, Tom Grainger 1 – 00, Alan O'Callaghan 0 – 01, Ian O'Keeffe 0 – 01, Mark O'Keeffe 0 – 01, Fionn Coleman 0 – 01, Conor O'Brien 0 – 01, James Walsh 0 – 01.