Mark Coleman at his brilliant best as Blarney hurlers capture the PIHC title

Blarney 1-20 Castlelyons 0-15

AFTER a super performance Blarney were crowned Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Champions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

As a team they were outstanding but, as he has on many occasions, Cork star Mark Coleman led by example. He hit nine points in the first half and added five more in the second as he controlled the middle of the pitch and was the deserving winner of the Man of the Match award.

Blarney set up with Declan Hanlon as a sweeper and Castlelyons found it difficult to deal with this all through.

However, just three minutes Castlelyons were dealt a massive blow when their talisman and Cork star Colm Spillane went off injured. To lose him so early in the game was a huge blow and one they never really recovered from.

Castlelyons took the lead in the second minute when Michael Spillane scored from a free, with Coleman replying at the other end, also from a free.

Then came that blow for Castlelyons when Colm Spillane went off injured with a hand injury, a massive loss to his side.

Coleman increased Blarney's lead, with Shane Barrett also pointing to make it 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes.

Alan Fenton pulled a point back for Castlelyons with Coleman replying at the other end.

Michael Spillane hit his side's third but two more frees from Coleman kept his side in control.

Anthony and Michael put only a point between the sides with Patrick Crowley making it a two-point game again. With 20 minutes gone Anthony played Michael in for what looked like a certain goal but his effort went into the side netting, with the Blarney defence working hard to make the angle tight for him.

Padraig Power increased Blarney's lead before three frees from Coleman made it 0-11 to 0-5 as the game went into injury-time.

Fenton pointed for Castlelyons but Coleman, with his seventh free, made it 0-12 to 0-6 in his side's favour at half-time.

Michael Spillane got the opening score of the second half, but straight from the re-start, they were dealt a massive blow when Crowley played Padraig Power in and he found the back of the net, to make it 1-12 to 0-7.

Two from Coleman increased their lead before Michael pointed from another free for his side.

Coleman pointed another free as Blarney were well in control at this stage. Two from Michael Spillane, along with one from Anthony reduced the deficit. Joe Jordan and Niall O'Leary exchanged points to make it 1-17 to 0-11 at the second-half water break.

Castlelyons give everything, with Niall O'Leary pointing and three scores from Michael Spillane made it 0-15 to 1-17.

But Blarney finished strongly with Barrett pointing again and fittingly Coleman got the last two scores to see Blarney run out deserving winners and rejoin the senior ranks.

Scorers for Blarney: M Coleman 0-14 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), P Power 1-2, S Barrett 0-2, J Jordan, P Crowley 0-1 each.

Castlelyons: A Spillane 0-10 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), A Fenton, M Spillane 0-2 each, N O'Leary 0-1.

BLARNEY: P Hallissey; S Crowley, P O'Leary, D Walsh; A McEvoy, P Philpott, J Jordan; M Coleman, R Murphy; P Crowley, M O'Leary, D Hanlon; S Barrett, P Power, K Costello.

Subs: S Mulcahy for K Costello (53), C O'Mahony for S Crowley (56), C Murphy for M O'Leary (58), B Ahern for R Murphy, B O'Connell for D Walsh (both 59).

CASTLELYONS: J Barry; J O'Leary, C Barry, T Carroll; L Sexton, N O'Leary, C O'Neill; E Maye, K O'Leary; B Murphy, C Spillane, A Fenton; J Kearney, A Spillane, M Spillane.

Subs: L Doocey for C Spillane (3 inj), R Fenton for B Murphy (37), D Tobin for J Kearney (54).

Referee: Ciaran O'Regan (Ballyhea).