Minor hurling: Blackrock rewarded for decision to step up to Premier 1

Blackrock have been Cork senior hurling champions on a record 33 occasions, and can point to 11 county minor titles as being key in under-pinning such success.

However, one has to go back to 2013 for the last time the Rockies reigned supreme at the U18 grade and the decision to participate at Premier 1 level this year was not necessarily an automatic one.

It has proven to be inspired, however – a 4-22 to 3-13 victory over Na Piarsaigh in Wednesday’s semi-final in Glenville propelled Blackrock through to the decider against Midleton.

A number of the current squad were part of the side that lost last year’s Premier 2 final to Carrigtwohill after extra time – while disappointing, it gave hope that they could compete at a higher grade, having not been in the top tier during their under-age journey, as manager John Browne outlines.

“Never,” he said, “this is the first year.

“It's a big step up – at the start of the year, I suppose we wouldn't have fancied ourselves getting out of the group when we saw the draw [Midleton, Sarsfields and Carrigtwohill].

“But, look, we ourselves as coaches felt that if they continued to improve the way they were, they would have a chance. We're in the final now and it's a massive achievement, no matter what happens.”

On Wednesday, Blackrock conceded a point and then a goal in the opening minutes but responded to that with nine points in a row.

“They didn't panic,” Browne said.

“We had the wind in the first half and we knew if they kept their shape and stuff like that, the lads would stick at it.

“They've matured a lot throughout the year. I think they realise you're going to get setbacks and it's going to happen that you're not going to dominate every game from start to finish and in that period, they stuck to it and they took their scores.

“They could have pushed it and tried to get a goal and panicked but they kept the scoreboard taking over.

“This crew have been together now a long time and they've stuck at it.

“Week on week and year on year, they've improved and they do start to trust each other, that's part of it.

“That's the thing with under-age, they develop as a group and, absolutely, they trust each other.”

That trust has brought them to the final and the chance to end a 13-year wait. Browne feels that there is a positive mood across the Rockies’ under-age section in general.

“We need it, the club need it,” he said, “because we have had a tough few years with the under-age.

“It takes effort all the time – no matter what happens, you need the effort. We looked at ourselves and felt we’d have to put in a massive work again and it is starting to pay off.

“The U16s had a good win – they weren't doing so well and they've improved massively throughout the year and I just think it's encouragement for all the young fellas.”