Minor hurling: Glen dig deep to see off the Rockies and reach the last four

Glen Rovers 2-13 Blackrock 1-14

A SOLID second-half display from Glen Rovers was good enough to see off Blackrock in a highly entertaining Premier 1 MHC clash at the Glen Field.

In a game that the Rockies looked likely winners for long periods, a superb Jack Kennefick goal in the 55th minute eventually saw the Blackpool side regain control when the game was in the balance.

In the opening exchanges, Blackrock looked lively as their physicality seemed to knock the Glen out of their stride. Peter Lenihan struck over the opening point for the Rockies, but the Glen responded with a Jamie O’Driscoll white flag.

The Glen were stunned in the eight-minute when a high ball towards the square was flicked into the net by the Rockies full forward Donal Ojiekhudu.

The Glen after a slow start got to grips with Eoin O’Leary executing three consecutive frees that saw them trail by the minimum 1-3 to 0-5.

The water break certainly re-energised Blackrock as they replied with four unanswered points, but the Glen finished the half with a point, but they needed a fast start to the second half as they trailed 1-8 to 0-7.

On the restart, the Glen responded to the wake-up call with early points from Luke Horgan and Eoin O’Leary in the opening two minutes.

A minute later Horgan showed sheer class to drill an unstoppable shot to the corner of the net as they led by the minimum.

It took 12 minutes for the Rockies to open their account following a Peter Lenihan point but they only trailed by the minimum with five minutes remaining. In the tense closing minutes, the work rate of Jack Kennefick was rewarded with a stunning goal that eventually killed off the resilient Rockies side.

The remaining group game will see the unbeaten Glen and Sarsfields do battle as the Blackrock and Midleton game is meaningless with both exiting the championship.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: E O’Leary 0-9 (0-6f, 65), L Horgan 1-2, J Kennefick 1-0, J O’Driscoll, D Long 0-1 each.

Blackrock: P Lenihan 0-8 (0-5 f), D Ojiekaudu 1-0, C McCarthy 0-3 (0-1 f), T Grainger 0-2, L Buckley 0-1.

GLEN ROVERS: S Lynam, S Cronin, G Marshall, D Coughlan; A Lordan, E Downey, S Corcoran, J O’Driscoll, L Horgan; N Goulding, L Quilligan, C Martin, E O’Leary, D Long, M Ring.

Subs: J Kennefick for M Ring (35).

BLACKROCK: C Sweeney; O McCarthy, L O’Donovan, S Aherne; K Morgan, C McCarthy, D Cronin; C Hanley, P Linehan; L Buckley, J Lynch, O Gribbon; T Grainger, D Ojiekhudu, D Garvin.

Subs: J Jackson for O Gribbon (40), E De Burca for L Buckley (54).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).