Premier SHC: Rockies on course to maintain perfect qualification record
Blackrock's David O'Farrell is tackled by Kanturk's Lorcan O'Neill in the sides' 2024 quarter-final - they clash on Sunday in the final round of group games. Picture: David Keane
Since the change of format in 2020, only one club has a 100 percent record in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC.
Blackrock have gone five from five in emerging from the group stage and wins over Glen Rovers and Fr O’Neill’s have left them on the verge of making it six in a row.
Towards the end of the RedFM Hurling League, the Rockies opted to play their home game against Charleville in Mourneabbey at 4pm on a Sunday in order to serve as preparation for their third-round championship tie – Kanturk provide the opposition at the home of Clyda Rovers.
A win or a draw will guarantee top spot for Jamie Harrington’s side but, even if they were to lose while Glen Rovers beat Fr O’Neill’s in the other match at Carrigtwohill, they could still progress.
Currently, Blackrock’s scoring difference is 11, as is Kanturk’s, while the Glen have scored as much as they have conceded. It means that, if the Duhallow side were to record a narrow win, it would put pressure on the Glen to post a big margin against an O’Neill’s side that are battling to avoid a relegation play-off.
There is a situation where the Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge side could qualify, but it would need a big victory over the Glen, in tandem with Blackrock doing likewise against Kanturk.
In Group 2, Charleville have secured top spot with a game to spare – the only team guaranteed a place in the knockout stages. They will be trying to take the sole automatic semi-final spot when they face Newtownshandrum in a local derby at Milford – Newtown could stilll qualify but would need a win coupled with a Douglas victory over Sarsfields by a narrower margin than their own.
If Newtown do not win, the Sars-Douglas game in Páirc Uí Rinn will effectively operate as a knockout game – the holders are a point ahead and so a draw would suffice.
Midleton top Group following wins over St Finbarr’s and Newcestown and the beaten finalists of 2023 and 2025 will be in the knockout stages as long as they have any result better than a five-point loss against Bride Rovers in Caherlag. Even then, a defeat of a greater margin would need to be combined with St Finbarr’s beating Newcestown by three points in Enniskeane.
The Barrs, like Bride Rovers, are on two points – Newcestown need to win by at least six, and hope Midleton win, if they are to have any chance of taking second place on scoring difference.
Blackrock v Kanturk, Mourneabbey; Fr O’Neill’s v Glen Rovers, Carrigtwohill; Charleville v Newtownshandrum, Milford; Douglas v Sarsfields, Páirc Uí Rinn; Bride Rovers v Midleton, Caherlag; Newcestown v St Finbarr’s, Enniskeane.
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