SHL Division 1: Douglas beat Blackrock with late goal from Conor Kingston

Douglas 2-24 Blackrock 1-23

Douglas got the better of Blackrock in their Red FM Hurling League clash at Douglas on Thursday night.

Both sides had some of their Cork players released to play with Shane Kingston starting for Douglas and Robbie Cotter playing for Blackrock.

The win means that Douglas now go level on points with Blackrock at the top of the table, with two second-half goals the crucial scores in their win.

David Kelly and Conor Kingston, with the latter’s coming late on after a mistake by the Blackrock defence left him with an empty target to strike at.

Kevin O’Keeffe put the Rockies in front with Cian Baldwin replying at the other end to level it, and over the course of the first half they were level on eight occasions.

O’Keeffe put his side back in front with Kingston replying from a free to make it 0-2 each after five minutes.

Andy O’Connell put Douglas in front for the first time, with Kingston adding another from a 65 to put them two up.

But the Rockies hit back, with O’Keeffe and John O’Sullivan scoring, before another from the former put them back in front.

David Kelly levelled it again, but scores from Fionn Coleman and Ian O’Keeffe made it 0-7 to 0-5 in the visitors' favour.

Again Douglas responded, with Niall Hartnett and Baldwin on target, making it 0-8 apiece after 18 minutes.

Alan Cadogan pointed from a free, with Kevin O’Keeffe and Ciaran Cormack replying for the Rockies to put them one to the good. 

Cadogan had them level for the eight time, before Blackrock pushed on with points from Coleman, Kevin O’Keeffe and O’Sullivan to stretch their lead, 0-14 to 0-11.

Conor Kingston replied for Douglas but late scores from O’Sullivan and PJ Linehan saw Blackrock in front by 0-16 to 0-13 at half time.

Kevin O’Keeffe hit two early points for the Rockies with Baldwin on target at the other end.

Cadogan and Cotter were on target again before Cotter found the back of the net, to make it 1-20 to 0-16.

Shane Kingston and Baldwin replied before David Kelly got Douglas’ first goal, to level it at 1-21 apiece after 49 minutes.

With time running out Conor Kingston latched on to a defensive mistake by Blackrock to get his side’s second goal, to put them 2-23 to 1-22 in front.

Cotter and Shane Kingston both pointed late as Douglas ran out deserving winners, particularly on their second-half showing.

Scorers for Douglas: S Kingston 0-9 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), C Baldwin, A Cadogan (0-4 f) 0-5 each, D Kelly, C Kingston 1-1 each, A O’Connell 0-2, N Hartnett 0-1.

Blackrock: I O’Keeffe 0-10 (0-4 f), R Cotter 1-4 (0-3 f), J O’Sullivan, F Coleman 0-3 each, I O’Keeffe, C Cormack, PJ Linehan 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: D Maher; D Murphy, B O’Neill, K McSweeney; D Kelly, M Howell, C O’Donovan; A O’Connell, C Kingston; C Hallahan, S Kingston, J Harte; A Cadogan, N Hartnett, C Baldwin.

Subs: S O’Leary for J Harte (12), S Barron for N Hartnett (58), D O’Callaghan for A O’Connell (60).

BLACKROCK: G Connolly; J Ryan G Norberg, S Healy; D Cormack, J Cashman, A O’Callaghan; PJ Linehan, D O’Farrell; F Coleman, K O’Keeffe, I O’Keeffe; C Cormack, R Cotter, J O’Sullivan.

Subs: R Sweeney for K O’Keeffe, N Cashman for G Norberg (both 42), L O’Sullivan for C Cormack, T Deasy for J O’Sullivan (both 53).

Referee: Mark Maher, (St Finbarr’s).