SAHC: First-goals key as Blarney win semi-final at second attempt

Blarney 3-15

Bride Rovers 1-12

Blarney made the most of their second chance as they overcame Bride Rovers in Saturday’s Co-op SuperStores Cork SAHC semi-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Having been beaten in a penalty shootout in the first running of this fixture a fortnight ago, Blarney earned a reprieve following an objection after Bride Rovers were deemed to have 16 players on the pitch in the lead-up to their equaliser at the end of extra time.

The game was ordered to be replayed again and, though Blarney trailed in the early stages, they were dominant once they found their fluency. A trio of first-half goals allowed them to enjoy a five-point half-time lead despite shooting ten wides and there was never a sense in the second half that they would allow their grip on the game to be loosened.

The win sends Blarney through to the final next Sunday against Newcestown, a repeat of the opening match in the group stage, which the West Cork side won by 2-18 to 0-21. Blarney were without the injured Mark Coleman for the early part of the championship though and the Cork star’s influence has grown with increased game-time in the knockout section.

He scored 1-3 here, including the opening goal from a penalty after the first six points had been shared, but his free role showcased all of his hurling wares – his positioning allowed him to be where he was needed and his distribution ensured he took the right option more often than not.

Blarney also benefited from an explosive performance by Coleman’s inter-county colleague Shane Barrett, who accounted for 1-6, while his brother Cian and Pádraig Power were a constant source of trouble for a Bride Rovers full-back line shorn of the services of the injured Patrick O’Flynn.

Following four early Blarney wides, Rovers did score the opening two points from Adam Walsh – he raised nine of their 12 white flags – but Blarney came back well through Power and Shane Barrett, with the latter making it 0-3 to 0-2 after good work by excellent centre-back Patrick Crowley. Daniel Dooley levelled for Bride Rovers, but it was the last time that parity pertained.

Sixteen minutes were on the clock when Power produced some super skill on the left. While he looked to have taken too much out of the ball, he was able to send a delivery towards the D, where Cian Barrett won it despite being outnumbered. He laid off to Shane Mulcahy, whose drive goalwards was halted illegally. Coleman gave Cian Hogan no chance with the penalty and there was daylight between the sides.

Within a minute, they were six in front as Patrick Crowley picked out Barrett in space and he was able to send a low shot to the net. While Bride Rovers came back well with points from Josh Ahern and Adam Walsh (two), a third Blarney goal arrived immediately to deflate them.

From Conor Murphy’s puckout, Cathal Hegarty took control of the ball and he found Cian Barrett, who did the rest for a 3-3 to 0-6 lead. By half-time, it was 3-4 to 0-8 and though Walsh pointed for Bride Rovers on the resumption, it was as close as the gap would be.

Six points on the trot solidified Blarney’s position, with Coleman superb in scoring and assisting, and they could even afford Power having a goal disallowed for a foul in the lead-up.

Bride Rovers had sought to shake things up – they began the second half with three changes from the team that started, while Brian Roche was moved to attack but starved of possession. They had fallen 3-14 to 0-12 behind before Cillian Tobin drilled a late free to the net, but Blarney’s passage was assured by that stage.

Scorers for Blarney: S Barrett (1-6, 0-2 frees), M Coleman (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1 sl), C Barrett (1-0), P Power (0-2), O Hegarty, P Crowley, C Hegarty and J O’Keeffe (0-1 each)

Scorers for Bride Rovers: A Walsh (0-9, 0-4 frees, 0-1 65), C Tobin (1-0 free), D Dooley, J Ahern and L Roche (0-1 each).

BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, P O’Leary, D Murphy; C Power, P Crowley, J O’Keeffe; O Hegarty, C Hegarty; S Mulcahy, C Dunlea, S Barrett; P Power, M Coleman, C Barrett.

Subs: E Kirby for C Barrett (54), C McCarthy for Dunlea (56), K Costello for Power (59), M O’Leary for Coleman, W Crowley for S Barrett (both 60).

BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; T O’Sullivan, D Cashman, C Hazelwood; K Kearney, E Roche, S O’Connor; B Roche, J Ahern; C Ryan, R O’Connell, W Finnegan; D Dooley, A Walsh, C Tobin.

Subs: L Roche for Finnegan (28), C O’Connor for Ryan, J Mannix for Dooley (both half-time), D Barry for Hazelwood (45), M Collins for Ahern (56).

Referee: S Stokes (Tullylease).