Despite a four goal haul from Sars Shane O'Regan, the Rockies fight back to claim a point in this super SHL tie

Blackrock 1-25 

Sarsfields 4-16

FOUR goals from Shane O’Regan wasn’t enough for Sarsfields to get the better of Blackrock at Church Road, as the home side rallied to overturn a five point deficit and get a draw in Division 1 of the RedFM SHL on Tuesday evening.

It finished 1-25 to 4-16, and the reigning champions needed a late Liam Healy free to make sure their efforts counted after the Rockies took the lead through a score from Kevin O’Keeffe in added time.

This summed up Blackrock’s performance, with the team clearly out to make up for defeats to Sarsfields in last year’s league final and the quarter final of the Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship.

What made this even more compelling before throw-in was the near identical records of both clubs. 

They both had just one loss recorded and were at the top of the table in Division 1, and fighting with Charleville for a place in the final.

Wider narratives meant nothing. Blackrock had a point to prove and they were relentless during the first half. 

This helped them surge ahead 1-9 to 0-5, with a Robbie Cotter goal from close range edging them in front.

Sarsfields, on the other hand, struggled to create from open play and their main attacking outlet was Healy’s frees. 

This worked, as it allowed them to keep up with the pace of Blackrock, and then Colm McCarthy played a quick pass to O’Regan who was on the edge of the square.

Ross Browne tried to put the forward off, but it was no good. A green flag went up and it was back to four points, midway through the first half.

Lee O’Sullivan responded for Blackrock, and this was followed by Kevin O’Keeffe and Cotter putting the ball over the bar.

This helped the Rockies lead 1-12 to 1-9 at the break, and any hope of the club pushing on after the restart was shattered when O’Regan got his second goal.

The forward completed his hat-trick within seconds of the puck-out, and Blackrock retaliated with two Kevin O’Keeffe frees.

O’Regan raised another green flag midway through the second half and Sarsfields surged in front, with the scoreboard reading 4-10 to 1-14.

The Sars management team tried to see out the game by bringing on Cillian Roche and James McSweeney, and the latter announced by scoring a brace within seconds of his introduction.

Blackrock were resolute, and Kevin O’Keeffe’s accuracy from placed balls allowed them to keep up with Sarsfields. 

It looked like the forward had won the game for his club in the third minute of added time, but Sarsfields equalised with a late Healy free.

Scorers for Blackrock: K O’Keeffe 0-13 (7f); R Cotter 1-1; F Coleman 0-3; L O’Sullivan 0-2, P Lenihan 0-2, S O’Keeffe 0-1, R McSweeney 0-1, C McCormack 0-1. D O’Farrell 0-1.

Sarsfields: S O’Regan 4-1; L Healy 0-7 (7f); A Hackett 0-2, J McSweeney 0-2, D Long 0-1, C D’Arcy 0-1, L Elliot 0-1 (1f), B Nowell 0-1.

Blackrock: R Browne; J Golden, G Norberg , O McAdoo, ⁠C Cormack, L O Sullivan, N Cashman, D O’Farrell, D Meaney, K O’Keeffe, S O’Keeffe, P Lenihan, R Cotter, F Coleman, R Sweeney.

Subs: I O’Keeffe for S O’Keeffe (53); O O’Farrell for Sweeney (60).

Sarsfields: D McCarthy; P Leopold, K Crowley, J Leahy, D English, E Murphy, J O’Leary, C McCarthy, C D’Arcy, L Elliot, A Hackett, B Nodwell, D Long, L Healy, S O’Regan.

Subs: C Roche for D’Arcy (46); Cillian McCarthy for Hackett 0-1 (46), J McSweeney for O’Regan (52).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease)