Darragh Flynn on fire as Ballygiblin battle back against Blackrock

Ballygiblin 1-21 Blackrock 2-12

Ballygiblin will play Lisgoold in the Co-op Superstores IAHC semi-final after overturning a seven-point deficit at Mourneabbey.

Former Cork U20 Darragh Flynn hit a sensational 0-8 from play, while free-taker Joseph O’Sullivan also landed eight for the 2023 All-Ireland junior champions with Sean O’Sullivan getting the goal that ignited the comeback.

Robert Cregan raised a green flag for Blackrock inside the first minute and they raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead. 

Goalkeeper, Ross Browne put over a free from his own 65, followed by points from Luke O’Donovan, John O’Sullivan, and another free by the Blackrock shot-stopper.

It looked like Ballygiblin were putting a run together when Shane Beston and Joseph O’Sullivan scored but their momentum stalled when the Rockies won a penalty after a foul on Colin O’Leary and Browne hit the back of the net, making it 2-6 to 0-6.

Ballygiblin only scored three times during the rest of the first half, while John O’Sullivan, Sean Healy, Cregan and Conor Coakley converted to make it 2-10 to 0-9 in favour of Blackrock.

The comeback started with Sean O’Sullivan’s goal and a 0-6 run by Ballygiblin.

Darragh Flynn got three and Cork footballer Cathail O’Mahony one after coming off the bench. Joseph O’Sullivan continued his 100% record from frees with a brace.

What made things worse for Blackrock was the 34th-minute dismissal of Cregan.

Two more scores from O’Flynn extended Ballygiblin’s lead and O’Mahony got another, making it 1-17 to 2-12.

Flynn clipped another two, with late scores from Joseph O’Sullivan and Sean O’Sullivan, ensuring Ballygiblin qualified for the semi-final against favourites Lisgoold, with Midleton taking on Erins Own.

Scorers for Ballygiblin: D Flynn 0-8, J O’Sullivan 0-8 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), S O’Sullivan 1-1, S Beston, C O’Mahony 0-2 each.

Blackrock: R Browne 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), R Creegan 1-1, E O’Farrell 0-4 (0-2 f), J O’Sullivan 0-2, C Coakley, L O’Donovan, S Healy 0-1 each.

BALLYGIBLIN: A O’Brien; K Roche, F Herlihy, J Mullins; K O’Gorman, M Keane, L Lewis; R Donnegan, J O’Sullivan; K Duggan, D Flynn, D Sheehan; S Beston, S O’Sullivan, D Barry.

Subs: C O’Mahony for Barry (HT); E Flynn for Sheehan (40), C O’Sullivan for Donnegan (45), S O’Doherty for Mullins (55), B Coffey for O’Gorman (60).

BLACKROCK: R Browne; J Ryan, G Norberg, R Laide; L O’Donovan, S Healy, E Cantwell; D Cormack, L O’Sullivan; E O’Farrell, I O’Keeffe, J O’Sullivan; R Cregan, C O’Leary, T Grainger.

Subs: C Coakley for Cantwell (28); J Walsh for O’Leary (45), E Coughlan for Grainger (45).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).