Division 1 HL: Robbie Cotter goal seals Blackrock victory after Fr O'Neill's second-half surge

Fr O’Neill’s 1-20 

Blackrock 2-22 

The usual tale of two halves from Aghavine, but this one wasn’t determined by the wind. Both Fr O’Neill’s and Blackrock performed better against the minimal breeze in their Division 1 Hurling League clash on Sunday.

The Rockies did so especially, racking up 1-16 in the first half, all from play.

In fact, the entirety of the City side’s scoring haul across the hour came without a placed ball. Michael O’Halloran top-scored with 0-6, three of which came in a second half where they laboured across the finish line.

Eight points separated them at the break. That should have been that, but it wasn't. O’Neill’s came surging back. By the 56th minute, the hosts were merely two behind, with the Rockies only having scored four second-half points.

The goal, which arrived in the 45th minute, injected blood into the O’Neill’s fightback. Pat Steele picked out Ronan Lowney and he fired across goal to leave it 1-16 to 1-19. When Kevin O’Sullivan tacked on two white flags from play, the margin was one for the first time since the 11th minute.

But Blackrock found the extra gear right at the death. In the final three minutes of the second half they hit the hosts for 1-2, O’Halloran and PJ Lenihan with the points, Cotter with the goal.

Ciaran Cormack – the only one of Blackrock’s attacking eight not to score, such was their scoring spread – was the man to find Cotter with a crossfield delivery, and Cotter blasted to the net to seal the win in the 60th minute.

Even with the total of 13 wides, it was another impressive shooting display from the City side.

Dan Meaney and Niall Cashman had enjoyed plenty of scoring opportunities in the first half, Cashman clipped a total of 0-4 from centre-back and was the Blackrock top scorer at the break, while Meaney hit 0-2 from the wing. The pair profited immensely from the Rockies’ middle third control in the first 30 minutes.

It was a 1-10 to 0-2 run from minutes four to 17 that built up the visitors’ monstrous lead. O’Neill’s had led early but Blackrock took charge, and Fionn O’Keeffe’s goal put them comfortably clear. That first major arrived in the 11th minute, Ross Browne’s long ball in for Ian O’Keeffe allowed him to tee up Fionn.

Kevin O’Sullivan was impressive as always for Fr O’Neill’s and his free-taking kept them within touch in the lead up to half-time.

With the boosting presence of Cork seniors Ger Millerick and Paudie O’Sullivan, O’Neill’s put together an impressive third-quarter fightback to make a game of it.

They came close, but the Rockies’ late burst was enough to ensure the points went to the visitors.

Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: K O’Sullivan 0-10 (0-5 f), R Lowney 1-1, J Millerick 0-3, D Sexton, T O’Donoghue Brosnan, P Steele 0-2 each.

Scorers for Blackrock: M O’Halloran 0-6, R Cotter 1-1, N Cashman 0-4, F O’Keeffe 1-0, PJ Lenihan 0-3, D Meaney, K O’Keeffe, I O’Keeffe 0-2 each, O McAdoo, R Sweeney 0-1 each.

FR O’NEILL’S: P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, D Harrington, O Steele; M O’Neill, G Millerick, D O’Neill; S O’Riordan, John Millerick; D Sexton, K O’Sullivan, P Hassett; T O’Donoghue Brosnan, P Steele, R Lowney.

Subs: C Lowney for O’Riordan (43), E Rooney for Sexto (49).

BLACKROCK: R Browne; Jamie Ryan, D Cormack, James Ryan; L O’Sullivan, N Cashman, D Meaney; O McAdoo, K O’Keeffe; PJ Lenihan, R Cotter, Ciaran Cormack; F O’Keeffe, M O’Halloran, I O’Keeffe.

Subs: S Healy for Meaney (43), A Geary for F O’Keeffe (46), R Sweeney for McAdoo (49), A O’Callaghan for James Ryan, J Golden for D Cormack (both 56).

Referee: C McAllister (Aghada)