RedFM Hurling League roundup: Fionn Coleman goal helps Blackrock get off the mark

A goal from Fionn Coleman was central as Blackrock beat Fr O’Neills on Sunday morning to pick up their first RedFM Hurling League Division 1 win of the season.

Having at home to Douglas in their opener, last year’s beaten finalists were 1-15 to 0-14 winners over the hosts at Aghavine, with Coleman’s goal coming early in the second half, at a time when they led by 0-11 to 0-8.

His individual effort opened up a six-point advantage and, while the home side side manage to come to within three after that, the goal was always a valuable buffer for the city side.

As well as the goal, Coleman also fired two points for the Rockies, with Kevin O’Keeffe finishing with five to his name while Daniel Meaney and Ryan Sweeney each scored a pair of points.

On Saturday, Carrigtwohill – who had lost to Na Piarsaigh in their opener – were 0-17 to 1-12 winners away to Douglas.

Talismanic forward Seán Walsh finished with ten points for the East Cork men, half of that tally coming from open play, while James Mulcahy contributed two points. Liam Gosnell, Brendan Twomey, Seán Brennan, Cian O’Riordan and Pádraig Hogan also scored for John ‘Tweek’ Griffin’s side.

While Sarsfields, who beat Glen Rovers on Friday night, and Charleville – victors against Ballincollig on Sunday – are in a share of the lead on four points each and Fr O’Neills and Ballincollig have yet to register, there is a group of six teams on two points after a win and a loss in their two matches.

Blackrock, Carrigtwohill and Douglas are part of that half-dozen and so are the Glen while Kanturk and Na Piarsaigh can also claim membership after the Duhallow side came out on top in their clash against the northsiders on Saturday.

It was a two-point win for the hosts, 1-19 to 3-11, despite having trailed by five at half-time, 2-9 to 0-10, with Pádraig Guest and Kelvin Forde netting for Na Piarsaigh.

Liam O’Keeffe’s second-half goal helped the Kanturk fightback and he finished with 1-3 in total while Brian O’Sullivan got nine points, proving deadly accurate from placed balls. Alan Walsh finished with three points for the victors and Lorcan O’Neill got two while Aidan Walsh and Lorcán McLoughlin also registered. Eoin Moynihan scored a third Na Piarsaigh goal from a penalty.

In Division 2, Killeagh earned their first win as they edged out Courcey Rovers in Ballinspittle, 1-12 to 0-14 the final score in favour of the Imokilly outfit. Andy Leahy scored 1-2 for Killeagh, with Dylan McCarthy scoring four points.

Carrigaline and Midleton lead the way in the second tier on four points each while St Finbarr’s and Éire Óg share third place on three points each.

Mallow and Ballymartle are the pace-setters in Division 3, the only two sides with maximum points after two games. On Thursday night, Ballymartle were 0-15 to 0-10 winners away to Castlelyons, while Mallow prevailed by 1-12 to 2-7 on Sunday morning when they travelled to face Newcestown.

Inniscarra picked up their first win as they beat Blackrock’s second team on Saturday by 0-17 to 0-10 while Blarney edged out Bishopstown by 0-15 to 1-10 on Sunday.

Division 4 has a pair of East Cork sides at the summit, with Lisgoold and Youghal both making it two from two at the weekend. Lisgoold beat Kilworth by 2-17 to 1-15 on Saturday while Youghal got the better of Kildorrery on a 2-16 to 1-18 scoreline on Sunday.

Cloughduv and Bandon, who drew with each other in the first round of fixtures, both remain unbeaten. Cloughduv won by 3-12 to 1-16 away to Milford while Bandon got the better of Russell Rovers, 2-13 to 1-15 the final score. Ballyhea beat St Catherine’s by 1-18 to 0-17.

Castlemartyr and Watergrasshill had wins over Argideen Rangers and Tracton respectively to maintain their 100 percent records in Division 5. Mayfield had a one-point win over Ballygarvan, Aghabullogue beat Midleton and Dungourney got the better of Cloyne.

The opening two games were played in the eight-team Division 6. Kilbrittain beat neighbours Barryroe by 0-17 to 0-10 in a fixture which doubled up as the Micheál Holland Cup while Sarsfields overcame Aghada.