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Minor Team 2006 (1988 and 1989 groups) |
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_______________________ Nov 2006 Premier Minor Hurling Championship semi-final. Played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday 3rd November 2006. Blackrock 1 - 11 Bishopstown 2 - 12 Hard to believe that Blackrock were 1 - 11 to 0 - 10 points ahead with 13 minutes left. With 58 minutes gone on the clock the Rockies were still three points to the good. Yet Thomas Murray then broke through to fire past Gordon Ahern to level it and just for good measure added a point from a 65 a minute later. Michael Power drove through again for a further goal to seal matters. Blackrock played well in this game through out and looked to be heading for victory. The sides were level six times during the first half and at half time at 0 - 6 points each. Eric Hegarty had played exceptionally well in the forward line and scored two beautiful points, Roy Power had added three from placed balls while Brian O'Sullivan at full-forward had chipped in a fine score. Thomas Murray was very dangerous at all times but was well held by a reorganised Blackrock backline in which Christy bonus and David Carroll were outstanding. Shortly after half time a Rocky forward Mark Drummond was shown a straight red card by referee Diarmuid Kirwan, following consultation with the umpires for an off the ball incident. Initially this appeared to provide a stimulus to the Blackrock players when Brian O'Sullivan kicked in a goal following some hesitancy by the the Bishopstown keeper, Colin Jones. By the 42nd minute the sides were level again at 1 - 7 to 10 points. There then followed four points from the caman of Roy Power, whose accuracy from difficult placed balls was perfect. He also put over a beauty from general play. The Rockies were now in the driving seat and held their lead for some time. However Thomas Murray moved further out the field and began to win ball at will in the Blackrock half back line. Eventually taking a pass on the run, he rattled the net from close in to level the game in the final minute of ordinary time. He then put over a "65". The Rockies were most unlucky not to level it again in their final attack but when Michael Power banged in a further goal for Bishopstown that was well and truly that. The Rockies played well in this game however with 14 men on the open spaces of Pairc Ui Chaoimh it was always going to be difficult in the end. The extra man told in the final minutes when Blackrock simply ran out of defenders for the two goals. The brilliance of Murray was also a factor, (he finished with 1 - 7) particularly in the final minutes when he seemed to lose his markers. Blackrock's dependence on Roy Power (he finished with 8 points, 7 from placed balls!) suggests a lack of scoring power in the forward lines. That said, Brian O'Sullivan took his chances very well and Eric Hegarty showed some brilliant touches although forced to forage out the field along with some of the other forwards in the second half for the ball. While this defeat is a set back for the Rockies, especially as they had put in so much work over the year, it is fair to say that they were just minutes from victory and were unfortunate in the end to lose by four points. Given the ultimate result of the Minor County Championship this group is not very far away at all. The real challenge now lies in integating the players into the senior and other adult hurling teams in the coming years within the club. The huge amount of work put in by manager Jamie Harrington along with John Browne, Fergal Ryan, Richard Stokes, Derek Gosnell, Liam Kearney and others with this very committed and dedicated group will pay off. Panel: Gordon Ahern,David Carroll,Ian Giltenan,Christopher Bonus,JP Carroll, Graham Howard,Brian Ahern,Carl Leonard,Richard Dineen, Mark Drummond, Brian O'Sullivan, Shane o'Sullivan,Roy Power, Eric Hegarty, Declan Kelleher, Patrick Parfrey,Liam Kennedy, Rory Wedel, Colm O'Brien,Ciaran Tobin,Donal Murray,Shane Norberg, Colm Daly,Shane O'Keeffe, Brian Parsons, Ciaran O'Mahony, Peter Horgan. _______________________ Oct 2006 Quarter Final Premier Minor Hurling Championship. Blackrock 1 - 14 Inniscarra 0 - 4 Pairc Ui Rinn on Tuesday October 3rd 2006. After 15 minutes with just a point between the sides, a series of passes out of the Blackrock defence culminated in JP Carroll finding Mark Drummond who floated a lovely ball over the bar. The signs for Inniscarra were ominous. However Inniscarra fought back and pounded the Blackrock back lines. The Rockies half backs led by centre-back Graham Howard along with JP Carroll and Brian Ahern broke up attack after attack. Howard at centre back was simply magnificent in the first half; in one five minute spell he cleared 8 balls and broke the Inniscarra will to attack. The Blackrock forwards responded with Eric Hegarty looking particularly sharp, scoring three fine points in the first half. At this stage also JP Carroll put over a particularly good point from all of 70 metres. At half time the scoreline was Blackrock 0 - 9 Inniscarra 0 - 3. It was one way traffic in the second half with points with Roy Power very accurate from frees and Mark Drummond firing over a beautiful effort from out on the sideline. Michael Coleman did his best for the Lee Valley lads however with James Cully having to mark Graham Howard, the Inniscarra midfield suffered and they had no power in the attack. When Roy Power goaled from a 25 meter free having caught the Inniscarra defence unawares in the 18th minute, it was game over. Ciaran Tobin put over the final Rocky point to cap a good overall team display. However from the perplexed look of some of the Inniscarra mentors it was clear they did not perform to their potential. The Blackrock looked settled however the forwards will have to achieve a greater return from their possession if they are to proceed. Blackrock now proceed to play Bishopstown, which will provide a much stiffer challenge in the semi final. Blackrock: Gordon Ahern; David. Carroll, Ian Giltenan, Chris Bonus; JP Carroll, Graham Howard, Brian Ahern; Carl Leonard, Richard Dineen, Mark Drummond, Brian O'Sullivan, Shane O' Sullivan Roy Power, Eric Hegarty, Declan Kelleher. Subs used: Liam Kennedy, CiaranTobin, Donal Murray, Rory Wedel, Shane Norberg. Scorers: Roy Power 1 - 4 (all from placed balls) Eric Hegarty 0 - 4 , Mark Drummond 0 - 2, JPCarroll 0 - 1, Shane O'Sullivan, Declan Kelleher Ciaran Tobin 0 - 1 each.
_______________________ July 2006 Minor Championship Played at Ballygarvan on Friday 30th June 2006 Blackrock 2 - 13 Carrigaline 2 - 12 This was a very tight match between two very committed and determined sides with the lead interchanging right throughout the game, until Roy Power scored the match winning goal with virtually the last puck of the game. The sides were level 10 times during an exciting contest which had a gripping finale. Eric Hegarty and Stephen Corcoran for Carrigaline exchaged goals in the opening ten minutes of this close encounter. Corcoran in particular threatened in the early stages and had 1 - 2 to his credit before an astute move saw Patrick Parfrey sent to mark him which limited his threat thereafter. Mark Drummond, Steve Guerin with points and three frees from Roy Power saw the Rockies at 1 - 5, a point behind at the interval. Two beautiful points from sideline cuts for Carrigaline from Joe Moran and Tony Murphy, the former from 70 meters were highlights in this half. Blackrock moved Eric Hegarty to a more open centreforward role in the second half and it immediately paid off when he got two points from fine solo runs into the Carrigaline defence. Roy Power from frees and play was also making a useful contribution throughout this half (he finished with a total of 1 - 8). The Rockies nearly came unstuck in the final ten minutes when a series of silly errors allowed Carrigaline add 1 - 2 to put them a goal up with 5 minutes remaining. The accuracy of Roy Power with a goal and two points in the closing minutes allowed the Rockies to come through by the narrowest of margins. Blackrock Team. Gordan Ahern, Christy Bonus, Ian Giltenan,Patrick Parfrey, Brian Ahern, Graham Howard, J.P.Carroll, Karl Leonard, Richard Dineen, Steve Guerin,Brian O'Sullivan,Mark Drummond, Roy Power, Eric Hegarty, Shane O'Sullivan.
_______________________ April 2006 Minor Hurling league played at Church Road Thursday 13th April. Blackrock 2-16 Bandon 3-15.
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