Premier SHC: Goals the difference once again for Blackrock as they overcome Kanturk
Blackrock's Alan Connolly crashes the ball to the Kanturk net during the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC quarter-final at Fermoy. Picture: David Keane
The green flag continues to fly high for Blackrock.
A place in the semi-finals of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC was claimed by the city side as they got past Kanturk in Fermoy on Saturday evening and the pattern was a familiar one.
In topping their group, the Rockies scored more goals and fewer points than St Finbarr’s, Newcestown and Fr O’Neills and once again they majored in majors. An Alan Connolly first-half strike put them in front for the first time after Kanturk had started well; then, after the sides went in level at half-time, Fionn Coleman netted within a minute of the restart.
Though Kanturk, playing in a top-tier quarter-final for the first time, stayed with Blackrock for a lot of the second half – Aidan Walsh firing over some lovely points, harking back to that famous Munster U21 final in the Gaelic Grounds in 2011 – sub Tadgh Deasy made the game safe with the third goal in the 53rd minute.
Unfortunately for Kanturk, the opportunities to find the net at the other end were not as plentiful and they will rue a failure to draw closer to their opponents in the middle period of the second half, when they harnessed some momentum. Nevertheless, having needed to beat Glen Rovers at the same venue a year ago in the relegation play-off, they can be satisfied with a year of tangible progress after going unbeaten in a group comprising Midleton, Erin’s Own and Charleville.
What was so encouraging for the Duhallow side was how they responded to Connolly’s 11th minute goal, which made it 1-2 to 0-3 and was immediately followed by a good score from Ciarán Cormack.
Brian O’Sullivan’s frees helped them claw their way back while Alan Walsh had a nice point before Rory Sheahan had them level, 1-5 to 0-8, in the 21st minute. After Connolly put Blackrock back in front, Kanturk fashioned their only real goal chance of the game, Paul Walsh’s run providing an opening for Colin Walsh but Gavin Connolly saved well. However, with Kanturk keeping the chance alive, O’Sullivan tied the game again before a huge Ryan Walsh effort had them back in front and then Aidan Walsh set up Lorcán McLoughlin for an 0-11 to 1-6 lead.
They could not stay in front until the break, though, with an Alan Connolly beauty followed by a Daniel Meaney point. Then, on the resumption, they pushed three ahead as Cathal Cormack’s delivery goalward won by Coleman, who finished smartly.
They briefly opened up a five-point lead as the game began to grow niggly, but Kanturk stemmed the bleeding and two great Aidan Walsh points kept them within reach – however, they did sandwich a great Grantis Bucinskas save to deny Robbie Cotter, albeit with the Blackrock faithful feeling he was being fouled.
Kanturk could come closer than two points though and, shortly after Bucinskas saved from Cotter again, Deasy – just on for his first appearance of the year, fired home to ensure that they would be progressing to the last four. Points from Connolly – who finished with 1-6 – and a free from his brother the goalkeeper rounded things off.
Gavin Connolly had also been on target in the first half, landed a dead ball to cut the lead to a point, 0-3 to 0-2. Prior to that. Kanturk had gained the foothold that their challenge needed, with good points from Alan Walsh, Colin Walsh and Aidan Walsh contrasting with early Blackrock wides.
On 11 minutes, Blackrock had the lead, though – after a turnover, Peter Linehan and Fionn Coleman linked to provide Alan Connolly with an avenue to goal and he crashed a shot home, 1-2 to 0-3.
It was not a decisive strike from which there was no return for Kanturk, but it certainly served as notice for what was to come.
A Connolly 1-6 (0-3 f), F Coleman, T Deasy 1-0 each, K O’Keeffe, G Connolly (0-2 f), D Meaney 0-2 each, Ciarán Cormack, M O’Keeffe, R Sweeney, R Cotter 0-1 each.
B O’Sullivan 0-5 f, Aidan Walsh 0-4, Alan Walsh, C Walsh 0-2 each, L McLoughlin, R Walsh, L O’Neill, R Sheahan 0-1 each.
G Connolly; A O’Callaghan, J Cashman, D Meaney; Cathal Cormack, M O’Keeffe, N Cashman; O McAdoo, D O’Farrell; P Linehan, Ciarán Cormack, K O’Keeffe; R Cotter, F Coleman, A Connolly.
J Ryan for Meaney (25-27), R Sweeney for O’Farrell (26, injured), T Deasy for K O’Keeffe (45), S O’Keeffe for Ciarán Cormack (56).
G Bucinskas; T Walsh, J Browne, J McLoughlin; M Healy, R Walsh, L McLoughlin; B O’Sullivan, P Walsh; L O’Neill, I Walsh, Aidan Walsh; R Sheahan, Alan Walsh, C Walsh.
D O’Connell for I Walsh (43), L O’Keeffe for Alan Walsh (57).
A O’Connor (Ballygarvan).
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