Cork club hurling talking points after an epic weekend of semi-finals
Sarsfields coach Johnny Crowley with James Sweeney after the win over Imokilly. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Sars will face Midleton in what should be a cracking Premier Senior final, a repeat of the 2013 showdown, after two thrilling semi-finals at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Both clashes were very hard to call beforehand and we could easily have had a St Finbarr's versus Imokilly decider. The Barrs were left to rue a series of missed goal chances before Cormac Beausang pounced to raise an injury-time green flag for the Magpies while the division was four ahead of Sars before coughing up 1-1 and getting squeezed out in extra time.
Luke Elliot's goal for Sars and Brion Saunderson's save from Conor Cahalane were the major moments in the Páirc. However, it would be reductive to break down two fascinating games down to a couple of bounces of the sliotar.
There were some terrific performers in all four teams, including young flier William Buckley, who was explosive raiding from midfield for the Blues, and Sars' Cathal McCarthy, who lanced over 0-5 from deep.
Ethan Twomey offered a reminder of his Cork potential with a dynamic showing, young gun Diarmuid Healy flashed over three glorious points for Imokilly and Conor Lehane made huge plays when it mattered for Midleton.
Penalties are a cruel way to decide a high-stakes championship game but that won't bother Bride Rovers are prevailing at the end of an enthralling joust with Blarney.
The Roche twins Eoin and Brian are their marquee men but rookies like Adam Walsh, Josh Ahern, Cillian Tobin, Denis Cashman and Conor Hazelwood are hurling beyond their years and Ronan O'Connell shot 1-3 from play. Keeper Cian Hogan was the hero though, saving three penalties in the shootout.
A plus for Cork fans was Mark Coleman lasting 80-plus minutes after his injury problems, albeit limited to an inside forward deployment. He arrowed over some savage points from play.
Carbery hurling might not be on a par with the Eastern barony but Newcestown are one win away from a return to the top tier.
They were superb at times against Carrigtwohill, despite the hard yards they've put on across the last two months having also made the Senior A football semi, which takes place next weekend.
After a difficult league campaign and defeat in their group game to Castlemartyr, Kilworth's season was hanging by a thread.
Now they're in a county final after knocking out Ballinhassig, Valleys and Ballincollig. Jamie Sheehan landed 0-5 in their PIHC semi-final success but it was their collective effort in every line of the field that stood out.
Twice Ballincollig hit them for bursts of 1-2 and on both occasions, Kilworth knuckled down and reeled them in, hunting in packs. Their work-rate was immense, Liam Carey was a snarling presence at corner-back, veteran Liam Whelan processed the world of possession, and their late winner from Michael Sheehan came from a break on a puck-out, an area they excelled in at Riverstown.
A young Collig side was outmuscled at times, though Conor Sexton, Brian Keating and Stephen Wills shone.
Robbie O'Flynn missed all of Erin's Own's Premier Senior group games after being carried on Cork duty against Tipp.
We expected him to be in cold storage until returning to Rebel red later this year. Instead, he made a second-half cameo in the club's Premier Junior victory over Barryroe and now has a county final against St Catherine's to look forward to.
It's a tough break for the Saints, under Denis Walsh's management, to have to shackle a 2022 All-Star nominee, but it's a terrific subplot for the neutral.
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