SAHC: Blarney boss Michael Barrett praises key defender Darragh Murphy after emotional day

Blarney manager Michael Barrett has praised Darragh Murphy for his impressive performance against Courcey Rovers on what was an emotional day for the defender.

The Muskerry side won 3-17 to 0-7 in the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC Group 3 Round 3 encounter at rain-soaked Newcestown last Saturday evening to book their spot in the knockout stages.

The beaten finalists in the last two campaigns will now meet Na Piarsaigh in what will be a tasty quarter-final tie in just under two weeks' time.

Murphy’s grandfather Denis Murphy passed away on the morning of the game last Saturday. He played for the Cork senior hurling team from 1960 to 1969 winning two Munster medals and an All-Ireland and league medal too.

“It was a great testament to Darragh Murphy that he played today,” Barrett said post-match.

“He lost his grandfather Denis Murphy this morning, who was a great servant to the Cork senior hurlers as a player and a selector. Darragh put up his hand to me and said ‘I’m playing’.

“We have to compliment him for that. He underlined the spirit that was in the team today to put in that kind of performance in what were difficult weather conditions.” 

The match never sparked and that was all down to Blarney. They handled the conditions very well to power past a Courcey Rovers team that will play Bishopstown in the relegation play-off.

“We are relieved to be through, the weather conditions were atrocious for both teams,” the Blarney boss says.

“The game went well for us. We built up a strong lead and we were able to kick on from it. Our work-rate and intensity were through the roof for the duration. We didn’t give Courcey Rovers a chance to get back into the game.

“It’s a very good win, we are delighted with it and the performance. It was knockout hurling and the lads knew that. The attitude was when we got ahead, was to keep going. The lads have that belief and it’s paying off for us.

“With the exception of Pádraig Power, this evening was the first time this year that we had a full contingent available to us. Everyone played really well.” 

Blarney have fallen at the final hurdle in the last two years. They are into the knockout stages again as they look to make it third time lucky. After a hiccup against Bride Rovers first day out, it’s now back-to-back victories against Watergrasshill and Courcey Rovers respectively.

“Last year we finished top of our group and still went to a quarter-final. We have ended up in second now and are in the quarter-final. For the last two years, that has been our route and it’s the same again this season.

“We are well used to it at this stage. We are content with where we are at. We had a blip against Bride Rovers and fair play to them. They came with huge intent that day and were maybe doing a bit of housekeeping for the previous few years.

“That game probably came a bit too early for us. Things are slowly coming together now. At one stage this year, we had 16 players from our group that were unavailable.”