SAHC: Cian Hogan's a hero as Bride Rovers triumph in penalty shootout against Blarney

Bride Rovers 1-23

Blarney 0-26

(aet, Bride Rovers win 3-2 on penalties)

Goalkeeper Cian Hogan saved three penalties as Bride Rovers advanced to the Co-op SuperStores Cork SAHC final against Newcestown following a pulsating encounter at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

With more than 80 minutes of hurling unable to separate the Rathcormac/Bartlemy outfit from Blarney, a shootout was required. Though Blarney drew first blood as Conor Murphy denied Brian Roche and Mark Coleman – scorer of ten points – netted, Cillian Tobin, William Finnegan and Adam Walsh scored for Bride while Hogan saved from Shane Barrett and Patrick Crowley.

Peter Philpott had to score to keep Blarney in it and did so with a lovely shot to the bottom corner but, while Murphy saved from Conor Barry, Hogan won it for Bride with a brilliant stop from Will Crowley.

While the team announcements had Blarney playing as per the programme, the number 21 figure of Coleman went to full-forward for throw-in as Alan McEvoy was ruled out. They had an early lead through Pádraig Power but it proved to be the only time in the half that they were in front.

Bride did move into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead but, while that was wiped out, the East Cork side pushed into a 0-7 to 0-4 lead as a pair of Walsh efforts sandwiched a lovely Brian Roche score. Back Blarney came again, Coleman landing a couple of beauties and they had drawn level at 0-9 in first-half injury time.

Conleith Ryan’s point sent Bride in leading and a brilliant start to the second half looked to have them firmly in control.

Having held a 0-10 to 0-9 at the end of a first period where they wore Blarney down, Bride moved two ahead thanks to an Adam Walsh free in the opening minute of the new half. Immediately after, the lead became five points as Josh Ahern’s good lay-off allowed Ronan O’Connell to run at the Blarney defence. Unselfishly, he passed to Walsh in a better position and, though Conor Murphy saved well to deny the number 12, O’Connell was in the right position to usher the loose ball over the line, making it 1-11 to 0-9.

Blarney did have a response in the shape of Mark Coleman’s fifth point of the evening, with Walsh in turn answering that as he sent over his sixth from a dead ball. Nine scoreless minutes endured for them after that as Blarney, through Coleman, Barrett, Pádraig Power and Shane Mulcahy, came back to within a point while only a good Patrick O’Flynn block denied Coleman a clear sight of a goal chance.

O’Connell and Barrett exchanged points before Walsh left Bride 1-14 to 0-15 ahead with a lovely score from the left but still Blarney came. Cathal Hegarty and Power had them level by the 55th minute and then Barrett had them back in front for the first time since the opening score.

If Bride were rattled, they didn’t show it as O’Connell levelled and then Josh Ahern laid off for Conleith Ryan to make it 1-16 to 0-18. Barrett equalised again as injury time began and, though William Finnegan produced a Bride riposte, Blarney sub Cian Dunlea sent over a boomer from his own 65 to send the game to extra time.

Josh Ahern had the first point but subs Keith Costello and Cathal McCarthy helped Blarney to lead by 0-23 to 1-19 at the turnaround. On the resumption, Bride led again through Brian Roche and Walsh but two big Coleman frees had Blarney ahead as the clock reached 80 but Walsh levelled again.

In the 83rd minute, Coleman had his tenth to make it 0-26 to 1-22and Walsh had his tenth to ensure that penalties were required.

Scorers for Bride Rovers: A Walsh 0-10 (0-8f, 0-1 65), R O’Connell 1-3, B Roche 0-3, C Ryan 0-2, D Dooley, W Finnegan, S O’Connor, C Kearney, J Ahern 0-1 each.

Blarney: M Coleman 0-10 (0-5f, 0-1 65), S Barrett 0-7 (0-4f, 0-1 65), P Power 0-3, C McCarthy, C Dunlea, K Costello, E Kirby, S Mulcahy, C Hegarty 0-1 each.

BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; D Cashman, P O’Flynn, C Hazelwood; K Kearney, E Roche, S O’Connor; B Roche, C Tobin; C Ryan, R O’Connell, A Walsh; J Ahern, W Finnegan, D Dooley.

Subs: L Roche for Dooley (52), T O’Sullivan for Hazelwood (56), D Barry for Ryan (half-time in extra time), C Barry for D Barry (80).

BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, P O’Leary, D Murphy; P Philpott, P Crowley, C Power; O Hegarty, C Hegarty; S Mulcahy, P Power, S Barrett; E Kirby, M Coleman, C Barrett.

Subs: C Dunlea for Kirby (38), C McCarthy for C Barrett (56), K Costello for P Power, J O’Keeffe for C Power (both 60), M O’Leary for Mulcahy (extra time), P Power for S Crowley (half-time in extra time), W Crowley for P Power (80).

Referee: I McCarthy (Bandon).