Kenny goals seals U16 Challenge Cup win for Rockies
Blackrock players celebrate after defeating Na Piarsaigh in the Rebel Óg U16 Premier 1 Challenge Cup final at Church Road. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Eoghan Kenny was the hero for Blackrock as his late goal was the crucial score as his side won the U16 Challenge Cup final at Church Road on Monday night.
With the game level at 1-13 apiece deep into injury time, he caught a long ball in from Jack Punch to find the back of the net to put three between the sides.
Punch added a point from a free after, but it was the goal that was the crucial score in a game that looked like it was going to a replay.
Punch was among others to play well for the winners, as both sides gave it everything from start to finish.
Piarsaigh had to start without their Cork star Callum Coffey as he was on the way back from injury, but he came on after 25 minutes and, as expected, added to their attack.
Na Piarsaigh took the lead early on when Josh Murphy burst through the Rockies defence to find the back of the net in the second minute.
Punch got Rockies off the mark when he pointed from a free, and with four minutes gone they also raised a green flag.
Ollie Walsh played Punch in to make it 1-1 to 1-0, with Adam Kirwan adding a point from the restart for the Rockies.
Darragh Casey replied for the northside club from a free, with Punch also scoring from a free as the game flowed from end to end.
Aaron Crowley scored a great point for Piarsaigh, but two from Punch – a free and a 65 – saw the Rockies lead by 1-5 to 1-2 after 15 minutes.
Walsh increased their lead before Crowley was on target again for Na Piarsaigh. Sean O’Callaghan pointed from a free for them to put two between the sides.
But two frees from Punch made it 1-8 to 1-4 after 25 minutes.
Two late points from Na Piarsaigh, from Crowley and O’Callaghan made it 1-8 to 1-6 at half time in favour of the Rockies.
Piarsaigh started the second half superbly with Nathan Coffey, brother of Callum, O’Callaghan, Shay O’Neill, and Callum Coffey all scoring to put them 1-10 to 1-8 up after 44 minutes.
Punch hit back for his side with Callum Coffey replying at the other end.
Casey increased Na Piarsaigh’s lead to make it 1-12 to 1-9 after 50 minutes.
Credit to the Rockies they kept battling, and three frees from Punch had the sides level with minutes to go.
Jayden Cregan put Na Piarsaigh back in front with Punch on target again to make it 1-13 apiece with the 60 minutes played.
Two minutes later, Kenny got the all-important goal to seal the win for his side after a highly entertaining tie.
J Punch 1-12 (11f, 0-1 65), E Kenny 1-0, O Walsh, A Kirwan 0-1 each.
J Murphy 1-0, S O’Callaghan (f), A Crowley 0-3 each, D Casey (f), C Coffey 0-2 each, N Coffey, S O’Neill, J Cregan 0-1 each.
C Coates; R O’Donaile, E Butler, R O’Grady; A McEvoy, C Stack, J Dwyer; P McCarthy, O McCaffrey; R O’Connell, J Punch, C O’Neill; O Walsh, A Kirwan, C Coakley.
E Kenny for O Walsh (40 inj), A Lydon for C Coakley (46), L Mackesy for R O’Connell (55).
C Quinn; J O’Connor, R Quinlan, P Foley; C Casey, J Burke, E Hogan; J Cregan, N Coffey; S O’Callaghan, D Downey; A Crowley, Z Brady, S O’Neill.
C Coffey for P Foley (25), D O’Driscoll for D Downey (60).
Trevor Lyons, Douglas.
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