Senior Hurling League 2006 Round 1

Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling league.

Played at Church Road St.Patrick's Day 17th March 2006.

Blackrock 0 --- 17 St.Finbarr's 1 --- 9.

With the wind chill at minus 5C and easterly sleet enveloping the grounds, the conditions were far from ideal at Church Road for this encounter between these great rivals on St. Patrick's morning. St. Finbarr's started well and were five points to one ahead after 15 minutes. Two points from Robert O'Mahony along with Cathal McCarthy, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Kevin Murray put the Barr's in the driving seat Adrian Coughlan from a free got Blackrock's sole score.

Two points from Adrian Coughlan and David Cashman were countered by points from Cathal McCarthy and a free from Kevin Murray. Things looked bad for the Rockies when Liam Meaney hobbled off to be replaced by Barry Hennebry. However the Rockies then settled into a fine rhythm with Fergal Ryan in particular playing at centre back cutting off the supply of ball to the Barrs forwards and David Cashman playing like a third centerfielder driving the ball into the Barr's goalmouth.

Two further points from Adrian Coughlan steadied the Rockies and then a brilliant series of passes from the Blackrock backline where John Browne twice robbed Kevin Murray passed to Wayne Sherlock to Adrian Coughlan allowed Gearoid Cleary to fire over a "beauty". Truly the score of the match! How Denis O'Keeffe of the Barr's missed an open goal immediately afterwards will remain a mystery as he struck the upright from close in and the ball was cleared. The half-time score was St. Finbarr's 0 --- 7, Blackrock 0 --- 6.

Early points from Kevin Murray, the second from a free showed the Barr's meant business after the resumption, however David Cashman put over a difficult point from play to leave just two in it. A period of sustained pressure from Blackrock where Brian O'Keeffe, Alan Browne and Barry Hennebry were increasingly getting the better of their men resulted in Adrian Coughlan scoring 4 points, two from frees and two from play.

However then disaster for the Rockies as a high floating ball from Robert o'Mahony appeared to be touched on by Kevin Murray and the ball just beat Frank Barry in the Blackrock goal to leave the scores level with 23 minutes gone. However versatile corner back Wayne Sherlock again put over a great point from 60 meters to put the Rockies ahead.

Blackrock seemed to go up a gear and finished very strongly as both Barry Hennebry who scored two good points, Adrian Coughlan chipping in a point and newcomer Colin O'Leary who got the final point asserted their dominance in the final minutes to score 4 more points without reply.

For the Barr's Ronan Curran, Robert O'Mahony and Kevin Murray all played well. Had the unlucky Denis O'Regan put away the goal in the first half the outcome could have been different. Credit both teams who defied the arctic conditions and played with tremendous intensity throughout the game.

Rocky manager Dave Keane can feel pleased with these first two league points, the Blackrock players first touch was good and they appeared fully focused for the game. David Cashman had one of his best games in the green and gold and showed once again what a beautiful striker of the ball he is. Fergal Ryan was dominant for the entire hour and repeatedly cleared ball from the half back lines. The Blackrock players always seemed to have numbers around to support the player with the ball.

Blackrock Team.

Frank Barry, Wayne Sherlock, (0 --- 1) John Browne, Richard Curtain, Mark Russell, Fergal Ryan, Ciaran Connery, Ian Walsh, Adrian Coughlan, (0 --- 10) David Cashman, (0 --- 2) Brian O'Keeffe, Alan Browne, Gearoid Cleary, (0 --- 1) Liam Meaney, Colin O'Leary. (0 --- 1)

Subs used. Barry Hennebry 9 (0 --- 2) for Liam Meaney, injured; Garry Norberg for Ciaran Connery injured.