Cork camogie: Blackrock too strong for Watergrasshill as they lift intermediate crown

Blackrock 2-11 Watergrashill 1-5 

VICTORY for Blackrock as they lifted the Nano Nagle Cup and were crowned SE Systems Intermediate Camogie champions on a superb Castle Road pitch in glorious sunshine.

Having lost out last year, the Rockies were determined but huge credit to underdogs Watergrashill who made them fight all the way.

Playing against the strong wind Blackrock led 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time, a goal from Erinn Curtin four minutes before the break key after an evenly-contested opening period. 

They had been three up early on, Roisin De Faoite, Hayley Ryan and Cliona O'Callaghan on target. Blackrock dropped a player back against the breeze and Watergrashill's Michelle Sheehan opened their account 13 minutes in. Coleen Foley slotted over before Ryan responded with a free. 

With Hannah O'Mahony and Joanne Cotter working hard, Watergrashill closed down the Blackrock threat. The Hill hit the front with a Ruth Kaiser goal after 17 minutes, as the former Clare player finished Edel Murphy’s long-range free past Clodagh Coughlan.

Blackrock upped their game and their defence with Aishling Hegarty and Leah McKeogh superb, held a tight grip on the Watergrashill attack. The favourites searched for a response to the Watergrashill goal, as Cliona O'Callaghan and Michelle Sheehan exchanged points.

Yet when Curtin picked up a long delivery and outpaced the Watergrashill defence there was only to be one outcome. A Ryan free meant Blackrock went to the dressing room happy with their opening-half display.

Ryan converted an early second half 45 and playing with huge confidence they continued to pressurise the Watergrashill rearguard. Edel Murphy converted a Hill free but it was their only score until two minutes from full time as Blackrock began to wear them down. 

Three points without reply stretched the lead before O'Callaghan grabbed Blackrock’s second goal with four minutes remaining. The sides swapped points late on but the Nano Nagle Cup was heading just down the road.

Blackrock’s Aishling Hegarty, who had an outstanding game in the heart of their defence, was named as The Echo Player of the Match.

Scorers for Blackrock: H Ryan 0-6 (0-5 f, 0-1 45), C O'Callaghan 1-2, E Curtin 1-1, R De Faoite (f), B O'Shaughnessy 0-1 each.

Watergrashill: R Kaiser 1-0, M Sheehan 0-2, C Foley, E Murphy (f), C Cronin (f) 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: C Coughlan; O Russell, M Ryan, M Cashman; A Hegarty, R De Faoite, L McKeogh; A O'Farrell, J O'Keeffe; M Coffee, H Ryan (c), B O'Shaughnessy; E Curtin, C O'Callaghan, K O'Sullivan.

Subs: S McCarthy for K O'Sullivan (35), K O'Brien for M Cashman (57), L Guerin for O Russell (57), T McMahon for B O'Shaughnessy (59), G Mulqueen for M Ryan (59).

WATERGRASSHILL: C Cashman; J O'Leary, L O'Reilly (c), K Fitzgerald; Hannah O'Mahony, E Murphy, J Cotter; A Fouhy, E Fitzgerald; C Cronin, C Foley, O Lehane; E Casey, R Kaiser, M Sheehan.

Subs: C Keohane for O Lehane (h-t), Holly O'Mahony for J O'Leary (44), M Kennedy for E Carey (48), C Fouhy for Hannah O'Mahony (55), S O'Mahony for C Foley (59).

Referee: John Hogan (Gleann na Laoi).