Blackrock minor hurlers power past Carrigtwohill into Premier 1 semi-final

Blackrock 5-19 Carrigtwohill 1-15 

Four first-half goals saw Blackrock seal their place in the Cork ETB Premier 1 Minor Hurling semi-final.

Conor Stack, Liam Cummins, Rowan Moran, and Jack Punch all hit the back of the net, with Shane O’Shaughnessy getting one in the second half at Church Road.

There was no stopping the Rockies against a Carrigtwohill team already eliminated beforehand, with Sam Ring hitting nine of their points. Cork minor Tom Walsh got their goal at the start of the second half but it hardly mattered as the home side had such a commanding lead.

Blackrock finish the group stage unbeaten and burst out from the traps and scored two goals inside the first minute. Stack netted from the throw-in before Liam Cummins tapped in the second from close range. 

Michael Quill and Ring exchanged frees before the third goal arrived in the seventh minute from a weaving Rowan Moran run that was finished neatly.

Ring responded with a brace of frees but it was 3-3 to 0-3.

The fourth goal arrived midway soon after with Punch free of his marker and unleashing a shot that gave Adam Lee no chance.

Blackrock then rattled off three points in a row with Jack Browne, Stack, and Moran all putting the ball over the bar.

Ring snapped that streak with his fifth free. The Rockies hit back with Moran, Andrew Hurley, and O’Shaughnessy all splitting the posts, as they took a commanding 4-11 to 0-5 lead into the break.

The second half felt like a formality, despite a start that saw Ring score from play followed by a Walsh goal.

The hosts remained in control, regardless, with O’Shaughnessy getting 1-4 during this period. The half-forward’s goal came from a stunning strike on the edge of the square in the 55th minute to make it 5-17 to 1-13 in favour of Blackrock.

Morgan Foley and Zach Collins came on and both scored for Carrigtwohill to slightly polish things from their point of view in the closing stages.

The Rockies march on with serious momentum.

Scorers for Blackrock: S O’Shaughnessy 1-7, R Moran 1-4, C Stack 1-2, M Quill 0-4 f, L Cummins, J Punch 1-0 each, J Browne, A Hurley 0-1 each.

Carrigtwohill: S Ring 0-9 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), T Walsh 1-1, J O’Connor, J Flanagan, M Foley, Z Collins, C Rooney 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: C Coakley; L Mackesy, S O’Se, J Browne; O Walsh, D Norberg, M Quill; A Hurley, C Stack; S O’Shaughnessy, J Punch, K Long; R Moran, L Cummins, P McCarthy.

Subs: R O’Neill for Punch (50), F O’Keeffe for Walsh (55), R O’Connell for Moran (55), B O’Keeffe for Cummins (57).

CARRIGTWOHILL: A Lee; K Kidney, C Cashell, P Ahern; C Rooney, C Seymour, J Flanagan; T Walsh, J Cullimore; C Galvin, J O’Connor, S Ring; D Horgan, J Nolan, S O’Donovan.

Subs: Z Collins for Nolan (50), J Gilley for Kidney (50), J O’Sullivan for Ahern (53), M Foley for O’Connor (55).

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown)