Cork hurling talking points on The Echo Sport Podcast: Penalty thrills and Hurler of the Week
Blackrock's Alan Connolly and Kanturk's Ryan Walsh go head-to-head, during their Premier SHC quarter-final at Fermoy. Picture: David Keane.
On The Echo Sport Podcast this week, we review a cracking weekend of Cork club hurling action and preview the football matches, as well as picking a Hurler of the Week.
There are few tougher ways to lose a hurling match than a penalty shootout. Especially after a sudden-death epic that took 26 strikes before Anthony Spillane stitched the decisive effort 9-8 to Castlelyons.
For the East Cork outfit, who shipped a heavy loss in the group stages to Bride Rovers, reaching the Senior A semis on their first season up from Premier Intermediate means they're into bonus territory. Yet they're capable of causing a shock, provided Niall O'Leary, Colm Barry and Colm Spillane can neuter the Glen dangermen.
Na Piarsaigh were left with plenty of regrets, coughing up equalisers to deadly marksman Alan Fenton at the end of normal and extra time.
Still, they have a clutch of brilliant young hurlers to build around, particularly Daire Connery, Kevin Moynihan, Ross O'Sullivan and Padraig Guest.
As they should, the marquee men from the Cork hurling panel were to the fore across the weekend.
Conor Lehane continues to deliver for Midleton, arrowing over four brilliant points from play against a Newtown side for whom Tim O'Mahony was a force of nature. Former Rebel Luke O'Farrell shone too, clipping 1-4.
Declan Dalton, despite being tightly policed throughout by Ciarán Joyce, contributed 1-12 of Fr O'Neills 2-15 in losing to Imokilly, with Joyce and Seamus Harnedy offering the expected leadership for the division, and Cork U20 Diarmuid Healy underlining his promise with 0-4.
Blarney were pushed to the pin of their collars by Killeagh but with Mark Coleman, Shane Barrett and Pádraig Power in red, there was no upset. Power got a spectacular goal, a one-handed finish from his knees.
Of all the Cork hurlers on duty, Alan Connolly was the star man. Veterans Lorcán McLoughlin and Aidan Walsh gave powerful displays for Kanturk but Connolly kept coming up with sensational scores for Blackrock. Robbie Cotter's pop pass sent him away for a goal he drilled to the net and all three of his points were from ridiculous angles under pressure.
The Rockies have hit three goals in each of their four games this season and will need them against Imokilly in the Premier Senior semi-final.
Connolly, though wearing 14, has operated in the half-forward line for his club and his joust with Joyce should be box office.
St Finbarr's and Castlemartyr were the highest-profile casualties of the hurling group stages while Ballinhassig and Na Piarsaigh fell at the quarter-final hurdle but there's no shortage of big clubs and talented stickmen through to the semi-finals.
The Premier Senior semis should be epic but the Bride Rovers versus Blarney grudge match, Lisgoold-Ballygiblin and Carrigaline against Ballincollig are also hugely appealing.
There's only one relegation playoff included but the Aghabullogue and Kilworth replay should be epic. Bishopstown (to Senior A), Cloyne (Premier Intermediate), Clougduv (Premier Junior) and Douglas' second team (Junior A) dropped down already.
Ballygarvan v St Catherine's in Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm.
Russell Rovers v Nemo Rangers in Carrigtwohill, 4pm.
Lisgoold v Ballygiblin in Fermoy, 4pm.
Midleton v Erin's Own in Cobh, 4pm.
Watergrasshill v Mallow in Castletownroche, 4pm.
Ballincollig v Carrigaline in Ballygarvan, 4pm.
Aghabullogue v Kilworth in Glantane, 4pm.
Glen Rovers v Castlelyons in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5.45pm (Rebels Online).
Bride Rovers v Blarney in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm (Rebels Online).
Blackrock v Imokilly in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm (Rebels Online).
Sarsfields v Midleton in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm (Rebels Online).
App?
