Blackrock to face Ballinora in senior camogie quarter-final after win over Carbery

Blackrock 0-14 Carbery 0-9 

Blackrock advanced to the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship quarter-final where they will face Ballinora after they overcame the challenge of Carbery in Castle Road on Sunday night.

The other pairings are Sars v St Catherine's, St Finbarr's v Killeagh and Glen Rovers-Éire Óg.

Blackrock led 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time after playing with the aid of the strong wind in the opening half. Both sides had goal chances.

Carbery were denied twice as the Blackrock defence got in vital blocks, the first yielding a 45 which was duly converted. 

Blackrock had a goal opportunity denied with Orla Kelleher advancing quickly to kill the threat and with Cliona O’Callaghan, Kaitlin Hickey, Hayley Ryan all on target, they held the upper hand. 

Siofra Patwell and Katie O'Driscoll found the range for Carbery against a strong Blackrock defence where Aishling Hegarty and Moira Ryan were prominent.

On the resumption, Hayley Ryan got Blackrock off the mark to put six points between the sides, but Carbery were pushing forward and three points without reply from Katie O'Driscoll, Caoimhe Murphy and Daire O’Brine had the gap down to three at the end of the third quarter.

Blackrock, deploying a sweeper, cut off a lot of the Carbery attacks and two pointed frees and one form play had them back in front by six with ten minutes remaining. 

Again, Carbery began to push forward and test the Blackrock defence, and winning three consecutive frees which Daire O’Brien duly converted, they were still very much in the game.

Battling to grab an equaliser Carbery were unable to make progress as Blackrock were back in numbers defending strongly and with Maeve Coffee and Erin Curtin pointing to stretch their lead to five points, Blackrock were safely through but not before a strong test from a determined Carbery side.

Scorers for Blackrock: H Ryan 0-5 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), C O’Callaghan 0-3, E Curtin 0-2, K Hickey 0-2 f, S McCarthy 0-1.

Carbery: D O’Brien 0-4 (0-3 f), K O’Driscoll 0-2, S Patwell 0-2 f, C Murphy 0-1.

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

Subs: S McCarthy for L McKeogh (40), K Lyons for L Guerin (45).

CARBERY: O Kelleher (Newcestown); N Kennedy (Clonakilty), E O’Driscoll (Enniskeane), E O’Donovan (Kilbree); C Crowley (Ballinascarthy), L Coppinger (St Colm’s), D O’Neill (Enniskeane); M Condon (Ballinascarthy), D O'Brien (Enniskeane); A McCarthy ( Clonakilty), K O’Driscoll (Clonakilty), M O’Brien (Enniskeane); S Patwell (Ballinascarthy), M Barrett (Ballinascarthy), K O’Sullivan (Newcestown).

Subs: C Murphy (Kilbree) for K O’Sullivan (25), S Burrows (Newcestown) for E O’Donovan (35), A O’Flynn-Mede (Clonakilty) for M O’Brien, M O’Donovan (Barryroe) For S Patwell (51).

Referee: Andrew Larkin (Ballygarvan).