Premier SHC: Robbie Cotter's late goal helps give Blackrock victory over St Finbarr's

Blackrock 3-15 St Finbarr’s 2-17

Robbie Cotter was the Blackrock hero as his late goal helped secure victory in an entertaining win over St Finbarr’s in their Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC opener on Friday night.

A crowd of 1,500 in Páirc Uí Rinn witnessed the Rockies establish an eight-point first-half lead that was wiped out early in the second half and the 2022 champions the Barrs looking to building up momentum.

However, the Togher side could never push more than two points ahead and, down the stretch, the sides traded blows. A huge Alan O’Callaghan point for Blackrock levelled at 2-15 each as the feeling grew that a back-and-forth second half might yield a point each in the table. However, Blackrock pushed.

Peter Linehan, who had set up their first goal in similar fashion, sent an arrowed delivery to Alan Connolly, who timed his pass to Cotter perfectly and the corner-forward did the rest.

In the final minute of normal time, Ben Cunningham cut the gap to two points and eroded it further as the clocked showed 30 seconds remaining of the two extra minutes, bringing his tally to ten points. The Barrs couldn’t claim the puckout though and Blackrock saw out the game to claim the win.

The opening minutes had yielded four points, evenly shared, before Blackrock drew first blood. David O’Farrell instigated the move, finding Kevin O’Keeffe, and he in turn played in Cotter, who finished well from a tight angle.

Daniel Meaney added a point to put them 1-3 to 0-2 in front and, though a pair of Ben Cunningham points for the Barrs cut the deficit, they were grateful to Damien Cahalane for preventing another goal chance as Ciarán Cormack tried to find Alan Connolly. However, on 17 minutes, the Rockies did raise another green flag.

This time, Cotter was the creator. Having brilliantly won Peter Linehan’s crossfield delivery, he held off a couple of challenges to hold possession and pass to Connolly, who crashed a powerful shot to the net. With points following from Kevin O’Keeffe and Connolly, the lead extended to seven points, 2-5 to 0-4.

With the half-back line of Cathal Cormack, Alan O’Callaghan and Niall Cashman enjoying supremacy, Blackrock were cruising and the lead almost increased further. While they needed Stephen Murphy to get a good block on a Sam Cunningham effort on 20, they broke quickly, with Dave O’Farrell surging through and exchanging passes with Connolly. His shot to put them ahead looked to be on target but Cian Walsh’s wonderful block limited the damage to a 65. Connolly converted that but the Barrs found an extra gear in the remainder of the half.

Jack Cahalane, William Buckley and Ethan Twomey got on the scoresheet to ensure that they went in trailing by just three, 2-7 to 0-10, and they were level within half-a-minute of the restart.

From the throw-in, Pádraig Buggy forced a turnover and a beautiful move was weaved together as Jack Cahalane and Ben Cunningham had their hands on the ball before Brian Hayes’s delicate shot beyond Gavin Connolly.

Blackrock responded well with four of the next five points, sub Fionn Coleman putting them 2-11 to 1-11 in front just after his introduction. The upper hand continued to alternate though as two Ben Cunningham frees were followed by another Barrs goal. While Hayes was being fouled as he held possession, referee Cathal McAllister played a good advantage and the Cork star’s pass to Jack Cahalane allowed him to play in Sam Cunningham for the lead score.

Again, the Rockies came back, Cotter and Connolly tying matters before Cotter went close to another goal, Shane Hurley saving brilliantly. Connolly put the Rockies ahead from the 65 that resulted.

In keeping with the topsy-turvy nature, the Barrs nearly responded with a third goal as Hayes played in Cunningham but he was fouled by goalkeeper Gavin Connolly. In an inter-county setting, a penalty and a black card might have accrued but Cunningham had to be content with the pointed free that levelled. Another, from the right sideline, put them back in front, 2-15 to 2-14. Unfortunately for them, it was to be the last time.

Scorers for Blackrock: R Cotter 2-2, A Connolly 1-5 (0-2f, 0-2 65), N Cashman 0-2, A O’Callaghan, K O’Keeffe, D Meaney, P Linehan, F Coleman, D O’Farrell 0-1 each.

St Finbarr’s: B Cunningham 0-10 (0-9f), B Hayes 1-1, S Cunningham 1-0, E Twomey 0-2, P Buggy, C Crowley, J Cahalane, W Buckley 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: G Connolly; O McAdoo, J Cashman, S Murphy; Cathal Cormack, A O’Callaghan, N Cashman; D O’Farrell, D Meaney; P Lenihan, A Connolly, K O’Keeffe; R Cotter, S O’Keeffe, Ciarán Cormack.

Subs: F Coleman for S O’Keeffe (36), R Sweeney for O’Farrell (52), J Golden for Murphy (56).

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; E Keane, D Cahalane, C Walsh; C Crowley, J Burns, E Finn; C Doolan, E Twomey; P Buggy, W Buckley, B Cunningham; S Cunningham, B Hayes, J Cahalane.

Subs: J Wigginton Barrett for Finn (38), C O’Connor for Twomey (43-44, blood).

Referee: C McAllister (Aghada).