RedFM Hurling League: Blackrock on song as they finish campaign with win over Douglas
Fionn Coleman of Blackrock tries to get away from Douglas's Alan Cadogan in Sunday's RedFM Hurling Division 1 clash at Church Road. Picture: Jim Coughlan
A dominant second half was emblematic of Blackrock’s strong surge in Division 1 of the RedFM Hurling League as they secured a third-placed finish.
The hosts had 13 points to spare over their neighbours Douglas at Church Road on Sunday morning, following on from victories over Killeagh (12 points) and Charleville (10) in their previous two outings.
Against the wind in the first half, goals from Ciarán Cormack, John Cashman and Fionn Coleman had given the Rockies a 3-9 to 0-14 advantage and they harnessed the elements well, finishing with 13 scorers in total – with all but two of their tally from open play.
It left them with a total of 11 points on the table, one behind runners-up Sarsfields, having head-to-head advantage over Glen Rovers, with whom they finished level.
While Douglas’s Andy O’Connell achieved the rare feat of opening the scoring with the clock still showing less than his jersey number – the right half-forward notching inside nine seconds – Blackrock replied through Ryan Sweeney and Daniel Meaney before they struck for a goal.
Mark O’Keeffe provided the delivery from the half-back line and Sweeney did well to win possession and create the chance for Ciarán Cormack to finish; 1-2 to 0-1 for the hosts, but Douglas came back well as wing-back Cillian O’Donovan landed a couple of good points while Mark O’Brien was on form from dead balls.
They were level at 1-7 to 0-10 thanks to centre-back Mark Howell on 25 minutes but two goals in quick succession from the Rockies solidified their position.
First, John Cashman exchanged a series of passes with Fionn Coleman before rattling the net and then the centre-back repaid the favour as he combined with midfielder Dave O’Farrell before Coleman produced a good low finish.
A four-point interval lead was able to stretched to nine on the restart as Coleman added two points with Mark O’Keeffe and Niall Cashman on target – the fifth point of that run was almost a fairytale goal.
Tadgh Deasy, making his first start since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in last year’s championship, weaved a run from his half-back posting, twice flicking the ball over a Douglas defender, and his finish was desperately unlucky to fly just over the bar.
Douglas did have a chance to respond when Alan Cadogan was fouled for a penalty, but O’Brien couldn’t keep his effort down and a point accrued; the Cork U20 added further frees but Blackrock were on a roll as they eased clear.
Subs Lee O’Sullivan and Eoin Coughlan were among those to register in the closing stages as the game expired, leaving the Rockies in good shape as championship looms.
F Coleman 1-5, M O’Halloran (0-1 65), K O’Keeffe 0-4 each, D Meaney 0-3 (0-1 f), Ciarán Cormack, J Cashman 1-0 each, R Sweeney, T Deasy 0-2 each, A O’Callaghan, M O’Keeffe, N Cashman, L O’Sullivan, E Coughlan 0-1 each.
M O’Brien 0-10 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), C O’Donovan, A O’Connell 0-3 each, C Kingston, B Turnbull, M Howell, A Cadogan, J Harte 0-1 each.
G Connolly; S Healy, Cathal Cormack, A O'Callaghan; M O'Keeffe, J Cashman, T Deasy; N Cashman, D O'Farrell; F Coleman, K O'Keeffe, D Meaney; M O'Halloran, Ciarán Cormack, R Sweeney.
P Linehan for Ciarán Cormack (half-time), Jamie Ryan for O’Callaghan (34, injured), O McAdoo for Deasy, F O’Keeffe for Meaney (injured) (both 39), James Ryan for Cathal Cormack (42), R O’Riordan for M O’Keeffe, L O’Sullivan for N Cashman (both 46), E Coughlan for O’Halloran (48).
G Maher; D Murphy, D Harte, L Kelleher; E O'Flynn, M Howell, C O'Donovan; A Cadogan, J O'Brien; A O'Connell, M O'Brien, C Kingston; B Turnbull, J Harte, C O'Keeffe.
S O’Leary for Kingston (half-time), D Coleman for Turnbull (40), B O’Neill for O’Donovan (45), C Mac Pháidín for Cadogan (54), D Murphy for J Harte (59).
S Stokes (Tullylease).
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