Minor champions Sars roar back from seven points down to draw with Blackrock
Tom Huggins, who finished with 0-5, lands a point against Blackrock in the Cork ETB Rebel Óg P1MHC clash on Wednesday. Picture: David Creedon
A thriller at Riverstown as the champions Sarsfield’s had to produce a Houdini act before a large attendance to secure a draw in the Cork ETB Premier 1 Minor Hurling Championship.
Sars trailed by seven in the 53rd minute following a Michael Quill white flag, but battled to the wire to snatch a share of the spoils.
What a performance from the Rockies, whose half-back line of Ollie Walsh, Dylan Norberg and Michael Quill completely nullified Sars' key players for long periods. For good measure, Quill hit 0-14, including three from play.
It was evident from the throw-in the underdogs were ready for battle all over the pitch. Adam Dunlea split the posts for the hosts in the opening minute but before Blackrock got a fortunate goal when Norberg lobbed the Sars keeper following a poor clearance out of defence.
Sars were rewarded for their resilience when Cathal Galvin found a path to goal and billowed the back of the net. However, they were giving away soft frees and Quill's striking meant the visitors led by the minimum midway through the half.
When Conor Stack made a devastating run in the 26th minute, his unstoppable shot opened up a five-point gap.
Cork minor hurler Tom Huggins' goal attempt coming up to the break was stopped with Blackrock had a 2-8 to 1-6 lead.
On the restart, Sars looked a side on a mission with consecutive points from Dunlea and Huggins.
The Rockies responded quickly with a stunning Liam Cummins point and could have been out of sight in the 40th minute but Sars keeper Cormac McCarthy produced a wonderful save from a Quill penalty.
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Blackrock looked well on top but the Sars management sprung three substitutes and made positional changes to revive them down the stretch.
Following Quill’s classy score in the 53rd minute, the Rockies were seven points to the good but the spirit of Sars resurfaced.
The home side won the majority of the dirty ball, a department where they had struggled in up to the crucial closing minutes but that’s when it mattered.
The seconds ticked down before Huggins showed his class with a super point that brought the sides on parity.
Indeed, Sars had three more opportunities to win it but Blackrock held on for dear life despite being the dominant team for long periods.
In the other game in the group, Midleton defeated Carrigtwohill so it's still all to play for.
A Dunlea 0-10 (0-6 f, 2-65), C Galvin 1-3, T Huggins 0-5, A Maher, A Leahy 0-1 each.
M Quill 0-14 (0-9 f, 0-2-65), D Norberg, C Stack 1-0 each, S O’Shaughnessy 0-2, L Cummins 0-1.
C McCarthy; S Carey, T O’Flynn, O Hurley; S Sheehan, E Considine, D Pomperoy; A Leahy, C McMahon; A Maher, A Dunlea, R Dennehy; T Huggins, C Galvin, A Morley.
D Crowley for O Hurley (33), A McCarthy for R Dennehy (45), C Kelly for A Maher (53).
C Coakley; L Mackesy, P McCarthy, R O’Grady; O Walsh, D Norberg, M Quill; A Hurley, C Stack; S O’Shaughnessy, J Browne, K Long; R Moran, L Cummins, A Browne.
R O’Neill for R Moran (48).
Peter Watson (Blarney).
App?
