Cork Hurling: What we learned from the top tier club action on Leeside

The final round of the Premier Senior Hurling Championship usually is drama-filled, and this year certainly did not disappoint.

Kanturk tore into Blackrock right from the first whistle at Mourneabbey. They felt hard done by to lose a thriller against Glen Rovers but they weren’t hanging around feeling sorry for themselves and were full of intent, with them deservedly seven points up after 14 minutes, with Blackrock not knowing what hit them.

Alan Walsh and Colin Walsh were causing huge problems with their physicality, and the likes of Liam O’Keeffe, Conor Noonan and Brian O’Sullivan were mopping up all the breaking ball as the first half lead was only going one way.

Robbie Cotter got the Rockies' third score in the 23rd minute to bring the gap back to ten points, and Fionn Coleman landed his second big score from long range soon after, only for a wonderful, swivelled O’Sullivan effort to ensure the gap remained in double figures past the 25-minute mark. 

Any time Blackrock threatened a fightback, Kanturk were just able to nip it in the bud.

Blackrock simply had no answer to the aerial threat of the Walshs and Daniel O’Connell up front, with Kanturk being rewarded for their direct approach with a commanding 14-point half-time lead.

Blackrock would have gone into this considering themselves as one of the favourites to lift the Seán Óg Murphy Cup but they got a rude awakening on that score as they were outhurled, outmuscled and outworked all over the pitch.

As Glen Rovers were putting Fr O’Neill’s to the sword quickly in Carrigtwohill, with them being 10 up at the break, the Blackrock half-time dressing room would have been one of complete shock. They would have started the day thinking of grabbing the automatic semi-final spot, yet they were facing elimination.

Blackrock attempted the comeback in the second half but the Duhallow men were never going to leave this behind them, with them holding Blackrock at arm’s length until the final whistle and running out 11-point winners.

The drama was getting going in Enniskeane when Sam Cunningham struck with a quality 42nd-minute point to level matters between St Finbarr's and Newcestown only for Richard O’Sullivan to quickly respond with a free to put Newcestown back in front. It remained nip and nuck until the end, with the game ending in a draw.

Both teams obviously wanted the win but a point each was enough to satisfy everyone. It was enough for the Barrs to secure a quarter-final berth, while Newcestown dodged the bullet that is the relegation play-off.

No team seemed to want that first seed spot with Group 3 leaders Midelton struggling against Bride Rovers while Group 2 top dogs were caught up in a right local tussle against Charleville.

When the dust settled, Midleton ended up being top seeds, although their last two performances against Newcestown and Bride Rovers were hardly county champions material.

They will be well aware of this and hope that by the time the semi-final stage arrives they can show the type of form they displayed on opening weekend when they clipped St Finbarr’s by eight points. Big improvements are required, but then again, pretty much everyone bar Kanturk will be saying the same after the weekend.

The three quarter-final ties look incredibly interesting. Reigning champions Sarsfields must now face red-hot Kanturk, in what will be a right clash of styles. 

Culture clash

Sars will look to work it patiently through the lines, but can they manage this against such a big physical side as Kanturk, who will undoubtedly look to go the direct route once more? That game will be fascinating.

Charleville versus Glen Rovers will be very difficult to call, although you would expect that Charleville’s hopes hinge on the availability of Darragh Fitzgibbon. Without the Cork captain, they will not expect to go much further.

St Finbarr’s will face Imokilly in the other quarter-final. The East Cork division had their work cut out to beat Seandún the last day so it is difficult to know how good this Imokilly vintage is. They do not look as strong as the side that won the title in 2024, but they will still fancy a crack off a Blues side with injury issues, as they limped out of Group 3 by the skin of their teeth in the end. Brian Hayes and Jack Cahalane are unlikely to be back for the quarter-final.

Newcestown’s hard-earned point against the Barrs dropped Douglas into the dreaded relegation play-off picture. They will face Fr O’Neill’s side, who have looked well off the pace but know one good performance is all that will be needed to save their skin.