2003 County Final Report

Newtownshandrum:        0 --- 17.

Blackrock:                      1 --- 9.

A return of just four points from play over the hour was simply not enough to win this contest. The fact that Blackrock were still in the match with just eight minutes to is a tribute to the tenacity of several of the Rocky backs who defended well under constant pressure. The stubborn rearguard which was the single main reason why the Rockies were appearing in their third final in a row eventually succumbed to the swift Newtownshandrum forwards, thus enabling the North Cork club to reverse the result of last year by the same margin.

This was just one step too far for this Rocky team on the day.

Yet pause and praise!. Only Blackrock's third championship defeat since the summer of 1997. Three County titles, two County final defeats all in the past six years, comparable to anything in the past history of the club, these guys have given everything and are not finished yet.

The sight of Wayne Sherlock hunting down the Newtown forwards in the final minutes, winning the ball repeatedly and defiantly hurling it back will remain one of the defining moments of the match for Rocky supporters, the unbroken passion in adversary; has there been a greater performance by a Rocky hurler? Old and young spoke in awe of his hurling ability last Sunday evening in Church Road, defeat was his lot but honour was retained!

Praise too for our conquerors Newtownshandrum; it is a hurling village, our communities share a unique passion, a common love of the game and this time the North Cork club could not be denied. They have deserved their day in the sun and good luck to them. Ben O'Connor is a class act, like the highwayman of old, he struck from everywhere!

What of the match itself ? The first half best forgotten, a scrappy, dogged affair, with little open hurling, a lot at stake, nerves at a premium. Yet Newtown showed enough steel and polish to indicate their hunger for victory. Ahead by six points to five at half time, J.P. King fired over a beautiful point within seconds of the restart, a further warning. Ben O' Connor converted points from everywhere as the Newtown team channeled the sliothar towards him at every opportunity. Six Newtown men scored 13 points from play, an indicator of their ability on the day.

The key moment, Adrian Coughlan buries a penalty, two points in it with eight minutes to go. The moment of truth, a Rockies rebellion in the offing? Killed quickly by Ben O'Connor with a glorious point, game over.

Once the pangs of this defeat dissipate, Blackrock will find it has much to celebrate and a firm foundation on which to build. As in 1998, defeat can become the stimulus to greater effort from many of the existing players, the junior team are the City champions, dozens of younger hurlers are coming up through the ranks, the future is bright. 2004 is another year.