Premier SHC: Blackrock dumped out as rampant Kanturk deliver seismic win
Brian O'Sullivan of Kanturk is tackled by Blackrock players David O'Farrell and Ryan Sweeney. Picture: Dan Linehan
You could say the big story is the famous Blackrock being knocked out of the Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC, but it would do a disservice to the mighty Kanturk.
The final game in Group 1 at Mourneabbey on Sunday evening was nicely poised, but when all was said and done, the team from Duhallow were simply awesome as they stunned their opposition to win by 11 points.
With three teams finishing level on four points, it came down to scoring difference, with the Rockies the unlucky ones as Kanturk and Glen Rovers power on.
This was as near a flawless performance as you could get from Kanturk. They never trailed and never looked in bother. They tore into the opposition from the off, led by the majestic Brian O’Sullivan in midfield, who controlled the game while also hitting 1-12.
They led by 14 points at half-time and controlled the second half to secure a famous win while also moving into the knockout stages. They will face the holders Sarsfields in the quarter-finals.
Blackrock were most certainly off colour and there will be an inquest into what went wrong, but this day should belong to Kanturk, who had been threatening this kind of statement win for a few years.
Kanturk set the tone after just 44 seconds when Colin Walsh’s delivery into Alan Walsh resulted in a penalty. Brian O’Sullivan duly finished to the net.
The sides traded points before an Alan Connolly free would be Blackrock’s last score for 19 minutes. During that time, Kanturk landed nine points on the trot to lead 1-10 to 0-2 after 21 minutes.
O’Sullivan hit seven efforts, all frees, while Colin Walsh and Alan Walsh also got on the scoring act.
Robbie Cotter eventually pointed for the Rockies, followed by Fionn Coleman, but Kanturk were dominating, with Lorcán McLoughlin and Tommy Walsh cleaning up from Blackrock puck-outs.
They hit six of the last seven points of the half to go into the dressing rooms 1-16 to 0-5 ahead.
The sides swapped points on the resumption before a Lorcan O’Neill effort extended the Kanturk advantage.
Blackrock did get a glimmer of hope after 37 minutes when Daniel Meaney was fouled and a penalty was awarded. Alan Connolly made no mistake, blasting the ball into the net.
They followed it up with 1-1 without reply from a Mark O’Keeffe point and a great finish into the net from Cotter, making it 1-18 to 2-7 after 42 minutes.
Any hint of a comeback pretty much ended a minute later when Blackrock failed to reset in defence, allowing Liam O’Keeffe to meet a sharp pass and double first-time on the ball, planting it into the bottom corner of the net.
It gave Kanturk an 11-point lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The game drifted in the fourth quarter, with Kanturk in control all over the pitch.
They managed the closing stages very well too. They were 2-23 to 2-13 ahead with 10 minutes remaining.
Coleman, a bright spark for Blackrock on a difficult day, did point for the city side, but Alan Walsh and another Lorcán McLoughlin boomer made absolutely sure for Kanturk.
Tadhg Deasy and Cotter rounded off the scoring for Blackrock, but an O’Sullivan placed ball and Colin Walsh put the icing on the cake for Kanturk.
A win they had been longing for in recent years has finally arrived as they march into the knockout stages.
B O’Sullivan 1-12 (1-0 pen, 0-10 f, 0-1 65), A Walsh, C Walsh 0-4 each, L O’Keeffe 1-0, L McLoughlin, C Noonan 0-2 each, L O’Neill, D O’Connell, I Walsh 0-1 each.
A Connolly 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f, 0-1 65), R Cotter 1-2, F Coleman 0-4, K O’Keeffe 0-2, T Deasy, P Linehan, M O’Keeffe, M O’Halloran 0-1 each.
G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, R Walsh, M Healy; L McLoughlin, D Browne, T Walsh; C Noonan, B O’Sullivan; P Walsh, C Walsh, L O’Neill; L O’Keeffe, A Walsh, D O’Connell.
I Walsh for D O’Connell (36), R Sheahan for L O’Neill (39-41, temp), R Sheahan for L O’Neill (46, inj), C Mullane for R Walsh (52).
G Connolly; S Healy, Cathal Cormack, A O’Callaghan; D Meaney, J Cashman, T Deasy; N Cashman, O McAdoo; P Linehan, F Coleman, M O’Keeffe; M O’Halloran, A Connolly, R Cotter.
D O’Farrell for O McAdoo (h-t), D Cormack for S Healy (35), K O’Keeffe for D Meaney (42), Ciarán Cormack for M O’Halloran (46), R Sweeney for P Linehan (54).
Niall Fahy (Brian Dillons).
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