Blarney show their Senior A credentials with huge win over Carrigtwohill
Blarney's Mark Coleman breaks from Carrigtwohill's Justin Oke during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC at Caherlag. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A stunning display of hurling paved the way for Blarney to blitz Carrigtwohill in the Co Op Superstores Senior A Cork County hurling championship at Caherlag on Saturday.
This was hurling at its best and if fellow group teams Na Piarsaigh and Courcey Rovers had representations at this game they will be under no illusions of the task they have to overcome this skilful Blarney side.
Both teams showed intensity from the throw in but it was Blarney who showed the greater accuracy with three consecutive points Shane Barrett (2) and Padraig Power in the opening three minutes.
Tomas Hogan did spilt the posts a minute later for Carrigtwohill but Blarney showed their class in as early as the fifth minute when a stunning run by Cian Barrett saw him place a perfect pass to Shane Barrett who drilled an unstoppable shot to the net.
The biggest problem that Carrigtwohill were encountering was their inability to keep possession and after ten minutes this game looked over as a contest when Blarney registered their second goal.
On this occasion, it was a masterclass move with Padraig Power who caught the ball before he found Cathal McCarthy in space as the final pass was laid into the path of Cian Barrett who made no mistake from close range.
Blarney were basically going through the motions as Carrigtwohill’s shooting was awful but they should have chalked up a goal with ten minutes remaining to the interval.
Sean Walsh got in behind the Blarney defence but his shot was tame and parried to safety.
Carrigtwohill’s best forward Justin Oke had a similar opportunity in the closing minute but credit to the Blarney keeper Paul Hallissey he parried it out for a 65.
In added time when Denis McSweeney split the posts all Blarney forwards had scored as well as both centre field players with one coming centre back Patrick Crowley.
The sound of the half time whistle brought relief to Carrigtwohill as they looked in deep trouble when trailing 2-12 to 0-9 with Blarney having the wind advantage for the restart.
On the restart Carrigtwohill looked to increase the pressure and a Sean Walsh point in the opening minute gave them the perfect start.
In the style of a top side, Blarney responded with the Barrett brothers Shane and Cian continuing to cause havoc.
In the 46th minute, both teams were reduced to 14 when Blarney’s Patrick Crowley and Pat O’Sullivan were shown straight red cards as a mini melee almost erupted following a foul on Shane Barrett.
Carrigtwohill kept battling but in truth, they were truly out of their depth and with ten minutes remaining we witnessed a goal of sheer class.
A beautiful pass to Cian Barrett saw him flick the sliotar and leaving the Carrigtwohill defender for dead he drilled home a classy goal.
It was fitting Blarney captain Mark Coleman would finish with a long-range point as his team sent out a serious message of intent of their ambition to win this championship.
C Barrett 2-4 (0-1 f), S Barrett 1-6 (0-2 f), P Power 0-4, C McCarthy, D McSweeney, M Coleman 0-2 each, C Hegarty, P Crowley, O Hegarty, P Philpott 0-1 each.
S Walsh 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-2 65), J Oke 0-3, P Hogan 0-2, A Walsh-Barry, J Mulcahy, L Gosnell, D Murnane, C O’Riordan 0-1 each.
P Hallissey; A McEvoy, C Power, S Mullane; P Philpott, P Crowley, M Coleman; O Hegarty, C Hegarty; D McSweeney, S Barrett, S Mulcahy; C Barrett, P Power, C McCarthy.
E Kirby for S Mulcahy (35), M O’Leary for D McSweeney (53), D Hanlon for C Barrett (56).
T Hogan; A Rooney, S De Burca, P O’Sullivan; P Hogan, A Walsh-Barry, D Mullane; J Horgan, B Twomey; C O’Riordan, S Walsh, S Brennan; J Mulcahy, J Oke, L Gosnell.
J McCarthy for B Twomey (23), L O’Sullivan for S Brennan (41).
Ian McCarthy (Bandon).
App?
