Senior Hurling League 2006 Round 5

Evening Echo Senior hurling league.

Played at Church Road Thursday 27th April 2006.

Blackrock 1 --- 16 Ballinhassig 2 --- 13

A fine sunny evening at Church Road, a firm sod, a good sized appreciative crowd and two very committed teams intent on hurling suggests Summer hurling is here at last. Both sides had chances to win the match, yet neither side really deserved to lose it either and when a very sharp Colin O'Leary banged home the equalising goal with the final puck of the match, no one had any real complaints!

Blackrock played with a slight wind in the first half started well and by the 20th minute were 0 --- 9 to 0 ---3 ahead. However they had also lost Colin O'Reilly who had scored an early point, to injury and missed a lot of chances. Despite playing some fast and skilful hurling at least 6 efforts fell short into the grateful hands of Martin Coleman in the Blues goal. Adrian Coughlan had scored 3 points in the period, while Gearoid Cleary put over 2 others. Individual points from David Cashman, Barry Hennebry, Derek Gosnell and Colin O'Leary made up the Rocky half time total of 10 points. Darren Dineen had scored virtually all 5 of Ballinhassig's points.

Ballinhassig converted four points from frees, early in the second half as they sought to close the gap of 5 points. David Cashman then converted a fine effort following a good pass from Liam Meaney. By the 14th minute they were level as following a further free taken by Martin Coleman; Fintan O'Leary hammered the ball to the Blackrock net from close in. A second goal followed from Declan O'Sullivan soon afterwards as a combination of a vicious swerve following a deflection and the low evening sun deceived Rocky keeper Frank Barry.

Blackrock replied with points from Adrian Coughlan and Derek Gosnell to cancel out a further brace from Ballinhassig. When Barry Hennebry scored a point in the 28th minute it left a goal in it as the Rockies laid siege to the Blues goal. Colin O'Leary pulled on the loose ball to strike the net and bring to an end a very enjoyable game of hurling. Blackrock now have 7 points from 4 games as the league games give way to some great championship action.

Team. Frank Barry, Wayne Sherlock, John Browne, Garry Norberg ; Ciaran Connery, Fergal Ryan, TJ Coughlan; David Cashman, (0 ---2) Adrian Coughlan, (0 --- 7 5f) Colin O'Reilly, (0 --- 1) Liam Meaney, Colin O'Leary (1 --- 1); Brian O'Keefe, Barry Hennebry,(0 --- 1) Gearoid Cleary.(0 --- 2) Subs used; Derek Gosnell, (0 --- 2) Ger Buckley (BS) Sean Murphy.