Cork Hurling: Blackrock's group record still intact heading into championship

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 - 11:50

Jack McKay

Since ending an 18-year drought to reclaim the Cork PSHC title in 2020, Blackrock have come close in the years since, without getting over the line. Apart from Glen Rovers – who haven’t won the top prize since 2016 – the Rockies’ five-season wait is the longest of any of Cork’s ‘big five’.

And yet, they are the only team to have reached the knockout stages in every season under the round robin format. Their group stage consistency since the change in structure has been nothing short of remarkable, even if they’ve only reached one decider since their 2020 win.

Blackrock have stuck with the familiar face of manager Jamie Harrington once again this year. With how close they ran Midleton last year, there was never going to be any reason for a significant reshuffle.

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Last season was the first year in which the Rockies’ championship wasn’t ended by the eventual winners.

In 2021, their title defence was thwarted by Midleton. In 2022, they lost to the Barrs in the final. In 2023, they fell to Sarsfields in the quarter-final, and then lost to Imokilly in the 2024 semi-final.

The 33-time champions are most definitely worthy of the reputation they hold; titles aren't the only place that number crops up, they used 33 players in the league both this year and last.

Michael O'Halloran, Blackrock holding off Tommy O'Connell, Midleton. Picture: Dan Linehan

This season, in which they achieved a third-place finish, Blackrock ended the campaign with 21 different scorers. Michael O'Halloran's 3-30 was their joint-highest alongside Robbie Cotter, who scored 2-33, though his tally came in only five appearances versus O'Halloran's nine.

O'Halloran was naturally the player to get the most minutes too, ending the season with a total of 488 and their best scoring return from play.

PJ Linehan, Sean Healy and Ciarán Cormack were the only other players to feature in all nine games.

Fionn Coleman was another forward to impress, notching 1-19 from play in seven appearances. Ryan Sweeney also did well to accumulate 1-16. The pair were two of the Rockies' eight scorers from placed balls, and with Alan Connolly still to return, they have an abundance of options when standing over the sliotar.

One of many things that can only be of benefit.

One of the biggest positives was the return of Tadhg Deasy from injury in their final league game against Douglas. He had been flying in last year's championship – one of their standout players in the early rounds – before they lost him.

He’ll be key in this year’s championship no doubt, along with Niall Cashman and Jamie Ryan, who were both very impressive at the back in the league this year.

Ryan Sweeney, Blackrock, battles with Jack Callaghan, Charleville. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Blackrock are heading into the championship with plenty of options across all areas of the pitch, and they’ll have to contend with Glen Rovers, Kanturk and Fr O’Neill’s. History suggests they’ll be going through, but it certainly won’t be easy.

Blackrock’s league scorers:

Michael O’Halloran 3-30 (0-6 f, 0-3 65),

Robbie Cotter 2-33 (0-16 f, 0-3 65, 1-0 pen),

Fionn Coleman 1-20 (0-1 f),

Ryan Sweeney 1-16 (0-1 f),

Kevin O’Keeffe 0-18 (0-1 f),

Niall Cashman 0-15,

Dan Meaney (0-1 f), PJ Linehan 0-13 each,

Alan O’Callaghan 0-9,

Ian O’Keeffe 1-5,

David O’Farrell 0-7,

Ciarán Cormack 1-2,