Shane Barrett and Mark Coleman to fore as Blarney edge out Na Piarsaigh
Blarney's Eoghan Kirby rounding Na Piarsaigh's Dayne Lee during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC at Ovens. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A tight and tense Co-op Superstores SAHC meeting in Ovens ended with Blarney topping their group.
However, they'll meet Killeagh in the quarter-final, with Glen Rovers and Bride Rovers going straight into the semis as top seeds. Na Piarsaigh take on Castlelyons in the other quarter clash.
Mark Coleman initially played wing-forward but moving him to a sweeper role proved the pathway to victory. After a nervy start where both sides had five wides between them, Cian Barrett opened the scoring. Shane Forde and the impressive Daire Connery pushed Na Piarsaigh out in front before Padraig Power levelled.
Evan Sheehan and Denis McSweeney swapped scores as Cork star Shane Barrett got his first of the evening and gave the Muskerry side the lead.
The ball did find the back of the net after 12 minutes, but celebrations were short-lived as Forde's goal was ruled out by referee Wayne King for a pickup off the ground by Ross O'Sullivan.
The sides were evenly matched all evening, Eoghan Kirby, Barrett (2) and Cathal McCarthy (2) found the target for Blarney while Craig Hanifin, Padraig Guest, Connery and O’Sullivan also split the posts and it was 0-10 to 0-9 to the favourites at the break.
As the clouds overhead darkened and the floodlights came on, the spectators in Ovens were treated to a feisty second half.
O’Sullivan opened Piarsaigh’s second-half account before Barrett and Kirby struck over for Blarney. Two points in a row by Connery and a superb effort from Kevin Moynihan made sure Na Piarsaigh stayed in the hunt.
The score of the game came on 43 minutes as Moynihan played a one-two with Dayne Lee before firing over on the run: 0-13 each.
Blarney’s superstar Barrett was on fire as he hit another three out of the next four, along with sub Jack O’Keeffe. Hanifin clipped a neat point but Cork aces Barrett and Coleman (f) who sealed the win.
S Barrett 0-9 (0-5 f), E Kirby 0-3, C McCarthy 0-2, C Barrett, P Power, D McSweeney, M Coleman (f), J O’Keeffe 0-1 each.
P Guest 0-5 f, D Connery 0-4 (0-2 f), C Hanifin, K Moynihan, R O’Sullivan 0-2 each, E Sheehan, S Forde 0-1 each.
P Hallissey; A McEvoy, C Power, S Mullane; D Hanlon, P Crowley, E Kirby; O Hegarty, C Hegarty; D McSweeney, S Barrett, M Coleman; C Barrett, P Power, C McCarthy.
J O’Keeffe for D McSweeney (52), S Mulcahy for C Barrett (57), S Crowley for C McCarthy (62).
L Donovan; P Murphy, G Joyce, E Gunning; D Connery, C Buckley, K Moynihan; C Hanifin, C Hogan; S Forde, D Lee, L Sheehan; R O’Sullivan, Evan Sheehan, P Guest.
P Rourke for R O’Sullivan (34), K Forde for E Sheehan (39), G Healy for L Sheehan (55), SP Cooke for C Hogan (62).
Wayne King (Banteer).
App?
