Cork Hurling Team of the Week: Brian O'Sullivan, Patrick Horgan and William Buckley shine
St Finbarr's Damien Cahalane put in a fine showing against Imokilly. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
All ten semi-finals have been set across the top three grades, and the five relegation playoffs have been settled. The championships are nearing their conclusion, but we had another week of enthralling games, results and individual brilliance. Here's your Echo Cork Hurling Team of the Week, the best performers across the top three grades.
Distribution on point as always, but Hickey came up with a fantastic save – his third crucial stop of the game – to deny Charleville near the end and ensure a victory for the northsiders. A superb campaign to date.
Rock solid every week for the east Cork side, but his performance here was above the usual standard. Ran himself into the ground from start to finish in their bout with Aghabullogue that was dragged to extra time, and slotted over a point, too.
Brought back to track Cillian O’Callaghan after the Dungourney forward produced a lightning start. Ring was exceptional in diminishing O’Callaghan’s influence thereafter, and very unfortunate not to come out on the winning side.
The stalwart continues to deliver. Another fine display in the Barrs’ win over Imokilly, and popped for a goal of the highest quality. Power and determination got Cahalane in a position to shoot, but it was a world-class one-handed finish to the net.
A fierce battle with Shane Kingston, and a phenomenal effort from the Cork senior as he helped Fr O’Neill’s preserve their top-flight status. Even chipped in with a point.
We could slot in the entire Kanturk team – and not for the first time in this year’s championship – but Darren Browne was the metronome from the back here against Sars.
Outstanding all throughout, his distribution excellent and gave Carrigaline the platform to control the game in their demolition of Cloyne.
Three outta four ain’t bad. How’s that, Meat Loaf? O’Sullivan’s third-straight team of the week appearance, and thoroughly deserving yet again.
His form this season has been nothing short of remarkable, and he brought the very same again as the champions were slain. That’s championship top-scorer with 2-44, now. An outstanding hurler, and we’ll almost certainly see him feature more in red next season.
An outstanding individual haul, and a brilliant performance from Desmond. Made the football bench in round 2 and gets a starting spot for this week’s hurling, for the fact he was everywhere in Carrigaline’s dominant win.
A savage scoring return. A crushing way to lose, but when the blow softens Ballinhassig can be proud of their debut campaign at Senior A. Ger Collins has had another excellent campaign, and ends this one with 1-35.
Took his tally to 2-13 with his best showing yet in this year’s championship. Superb in defeating Sars, playing a key role in Lorcan O’Neill’s goal and took his own goal brilliantly.
Another fine display for the Hill, Lehane doesn’t always get the credit he deserves when Adam Murphy and Seán Desmond are on song, but he was excellent here in their win over Ballinhassig.
Electric. Again. Buckley just goes from strength to strength every week. The Barrs form so far may mark Kanturk as favourites for their semi-final clash in a fortnight, but Buckley will take some minding. He gave Timmy Wilk – who is a brilliant hurler – a very hard time here. Arguably the form forward of the PSHC.
And the veteran still shines. Another remarkable performance from Horgan, that’s 1-35 now this campaign. His goal was superbly taken and finished, and he struck four points from play too as they brought down Charleville.
Outstanding again, bringing his tally to 3-11 for this year’s championship. Reacted well to take his early goal and added several points to go with, as they saw off Hassig in extra time.
Grantas Bucinskas (Kanturk)
Adam Sherlock (Imokilly)
Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields) 0-5
Daniel Murnane (Carrigtwohill) 1-1
Conor Noonan (Kanturk)
James Lane (Aghabullogue) 1-4
Tom Hanley (Ballyhea) 0-4 (0-1 sideline)
Shane Kingston (Douglas) 0-9 (0-3 f)
Cillian O’Callaghan (Dungourney) 2-2
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