St Finbarr's get camogie title defence off to winning start against Blackrock

St Finbarr’s 3-16 Blackrock 2-8

St Finbarr’s got the defence of their SE Systems Cork Senior Camogie Championship title off to a winning start at Castle Road on Wednesday night.

It was a battle for a long time and they could only relax late on when Hannah O’Leary got their second goal to put them 2-14 to 2-6 up.

Credit to the Rockies they made it difficult for the champions for most of the game and when Hayley Ryan got their second goal there was only three between them, after 45 minutes.

But the Barrs upped their game to finish strongly to secure what was a deserved win overall.

Both defences, particularly Blackrock, were on top early on with Moira Ryan and Oonagh Grimley leading by example.

But the Barrs aren’t the champions for nothing and started to settle into the game. Once they did they started to make it tell on the score board.

McCartan got their opening point and she added a second from a free to put them 0-2 to no score up after nine minutes.

Blackrock had a chance to hit back but Kate O’Sullivan’s goal effort went just wide. They had another chance for a goal but this time Jess Murphy’s effort also went on the wrong side of the post.

Keeva McCarthy got the Barrs' third point before they found the back of the net.

Orlaith Cahalane and McCartan combined to set up McCarthy, to make it 1-3 to no score after 13 minutes.

Again Blackrock had another goal chance, this time Maeve Coffey was unlucky not to score

The impressive Hayley Ryan got the Rockies off the mark after 20 minutes when she pointed from a free, with McCartan replying at the other end.

Juliet O’Keeffe got the Barrs' fifth point and another McCartan free made it 1-6 to 0-1 after 30 minutes.

But the Rockies weren’t going to give in easily and two frees, from Coffey and Cliona O’Callaghan reduced the deficit as the Barrs led by 1-6 to 0-3 at half time.

McCarthy and O’Callaghan were on target for their respective sides early in the second half, before Erinn Curtin got a goal for the Rockies, to make it 1-10 to 1-5.

Three minutes later they go their second to put three between them, 1-11 to 2-5.

But McCartan and McCarthy ensured their side stayed in front as they added points, before O’Leary got the crucial goal.

McCartan added their third goal late on to ensure the win after an entertaining game.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: K McCarthy (0-3 f, 0-1 45), S McCartan (0-2 f, 0-1 45) 1-7 each, H O’Leary 1-0, O Cahalane, E Wigginton Barrett 0-1 each.

Blackrock: C O'Callaghan 0-5 (0-4 f), H Ryan 1-1 (0-1 f), E Curtin 1-0, M Coffey (f), M Ryan 0-1 each.

ST FINBARR’S: C Hurley; S Punch, S Daly, A Egan; A O’Neill, M Cahalane, C Golden; E Olden, A Shannon; S McCartan, H O’Leary, K McCarthy; O Cahalane, N Olden, E Wigginton Barrett.

Subs: G Cahalane for E Wigginton Barrett (ht), K Cahalane for A Egan (48), L O’Donovan for E Olden (50).

BLACKROCK: A Kearney; A Hegarty, M Ryan, A Leahy; M Cashman, O Grimley, L Guerin; J O’Keeffe, H Ryan; M Coffey, J Murphy, L McKeogh; E Curtin, C O’Callaghan, K O’Sullivan.

Subs: S McCarthy for K O’Sullivan (41), K Lyons for L Guerin (44).

Referee: Cathal Egan, Glen Rovers.