Cork Hurling: Only Sarsfields and Blackrock averaged over 20 points from play in Premier SHC

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025 - 09:40

Jack McKay

Having examined what each club conceded from play yesterday, attention now turns to the other side of the ledger; what they scored from play, and how dependent each side was on placed balls.

The same framework applies as before, breaking down the average points per game (PPG) across the number of matches each team played. But this time, the focus is solely on what came in open play – no frees, 65s, penalties or sidelines included.

And just as they did on the overall scoring return, the top two stand apart.

Sarsfields and Blackrock both produced exceptional attacking numbers from play, finishing as the only two sides to average more than 20 points per game. The champions led the field once more, returning 22.5 PPG from play, their overall tally reading 10-105 across six matches.

The Rockies weren’t far behind. Across four outings (plus extra time in the semi-final), they posted 22.3 PPG from play, with only 26 points from placed balls all season – an average of just over six per game – a figure that shows what they carry in both attack and shot creation.

Adam Lynch, Glen Rovers, gets away from Conor Lehane and Mikey Finn, Midleton, during the Cork PSHC quarter final. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

In third place are Charleville, who scored 17.3 PPG from play across their four games, for an average of 4.8 PPG from placed balls. Only Douglas averaged fewer placed ball scores per game.

Relegated Erin’s Own sit fourth on 16.8 PPG from play. Their downfall wasn’t a lack of scoring power but the defensive leaks that undid them. Just behind are St Finbarr’s, who posted 16.4 PPG from play, a notable drop from their overall average of 24.4 PPG when frees and the like are factored in.

Midleton, beaten county finalists, follow in sixth (15.5 PPG from play). They registered 0-42 from placed balls across 6.33 games, the highest total from dead balls in the grade.

Glen Rovers are a touch further back with 15 PPG from play, with the second highest goals return from placed balls, only Erin’s Own managed more.

Eighth goes to Newtownshandrum, the north Cork club averaging 14.6 PPG from play across their five games. A bit further back with a gap of 1.3 PPG to Newtown are Kanturk, who averaged 13.3 PPG from play in their three group stage outings.

Charleville's Darragh Fitzgibbon wins possession under pressure from Newcestown's Gearoid O'Donovan, during their Premier SHC clash at Grenagh. Picture: David Keane.

Douglas are 0.3 PPG behind Kanturk and lie 10th, with an average of only 13 PPG across their three games, but at the foot of the table, the gap is stark.

Eleventh goes to Fr O’Neill’s, who posted a PPG from play of just 11.6, with exactly half of their 52 white flags raised coming from placed balls, while Newcestown are at the bottom as the most reliant of all on placed shots – less than half of their white flags came from play.

Rankings in full:

1st – Sarsfields

22.5 PPG from play

Scored: 10-143

Scored from placed balls: 0-38

GP 6

2nd – Blackrock

22.3 PPG from play

Scored: 4-103

Scored from placed balls: 0-26

GP 4.33

3rd – Charleville