Robbie O'Flynn shines as Erin's Own dominate second half against Na Piarsaigh

Erin’s Own 1-19 Na Piarsaigh 0-15 

A second-half no-show by Na Piarsaigh saw Erin's Own grab a win in the Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship opener at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

In a game that failed to ignite at any stage, the city side's dismal four-point tally after the break summed up their evening at the Boreenmana Road venue, with only two of those coming from play.

The Farranree side went into the game minus former Cork underage forward Ross O’Sullivan, who is out of the country and they lacked the necessary firepower to upset their opponents.

Erin’s Own, who were relegated from Premier Senior last year, will be happy with the result, but their overall display left a lot to be desired though Cork hurler Robbie O'Flynn clipped 0-5 from play.

The opening exchanges were scrappy but Erin’s Own were a little better in the scoring charts as consecutive Peter O’Shea points giving them a two-point cushion. When Robbie O’Flynn split the posts a minute later, Na Piarsaigh looked in trouble before the excellent Daire Connery got them up and running in the fourth minute following a placed ball.

The Glounthaune outfit struggled for spell as Na Piarsaigh registered six unanswered points with three coming from the stick of Connery. Na Piarsaigh looked to be in ascendency but a mistake by goalkeeper Luke Donovan from a puck-out saw the ball come into the path of Conor Sheehan, who placed the ball into the empty net.

Consecutive Conor Lenihan points and suddenly Erin’s Own were back in control before O’Flynn was denied a goal in the 24th minute following a miraculous Donovan save. In the closing minutes, both sides continued to make basic errors, but another brace of Connery points ensured Na Piarsaigh went in at the break on level terms 1-8 to 0-11.

Na Piarsaigh needed a good start to the second half but instead they gave away a soft free just 40 seconds into the action that Lenihan duly converted. Four consecutive Erin’s Own white flags gave them the control they never again relinquished.

Na Piarsaigh were lucky their keeper Luke Donovan was alert as he stopped two certain goals that would have put their opponents out of sight.

Upwards and onwards for Erin’s Own, whose next clash against Killeagh will give them a better idea of their chances. Na Piarsaigh will be hoping to get more artillery back for their crucial game against Fermoy.

Scorers for Erin’s Own: C Lenihan 1-5 (0-3 f), R O’Flynn 0-5, M O’Riordan 0-3, P O’Shea, C Dunphy 0-2 each, O O’Regan (f), S Irwin 0-1 each.

Na Piarsaigh: D Connery 0-8 (0-5 f), P Rourke, K Moynihan 0-2 each, O Galvin, P Guest, L Sheehan 0-1 each.

ERIN'S OWN: T Dillon; C O’Connor, S Broderick, R O’ Regan; C Dunphy, O O’Regan, C Dooley; C McDonnell, T Connell; P O’Shea, R O’Flynn, M O’Riordan; F O’Brien, M O’Carroll, C Linehan.

Subs: S Irwin for C McDonnell (45), A O’Sullivan for R O’Flynn (54).

NA PIARSAIGH: L Donovan; P Murphy, E Sheehan, A Higgins; G Healy, C Buckley, E Gunning; C Meaney, C Hogan; L Sheehan, P Guest, P Rourke; D Connelly, C Hannifin, O Galvin.

Subs: K Moynihan for P Rourke (inj h-t), D Scanlon for C Hogan 44, K Galvin for P Murphy (58), K Sheehan for A Higgins (58).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).