Minor Team 2007 (1989 and 1990 groups)

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September 2007

Minor County Championship Quarter Final. 

Blackrock 0 - 15 Glen Rovers 2 - 16 

played at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday 29th September

This match was effectively decided by two goals from Kevin Barry and Richard Whitty in 35th and 45th minutes of this game played at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday 29th September 2007. Blackrock in turn had three clear goal chances around the same period but failed to convert any of them.

"goals win games"!

There was very little between the sides in the first half in which there was some fine open hurling. Stephen McCarthy and Stephen Guerin had contributed two points each, while Stephen McDonnell and Richard Whitty had done likewise for the Glen. The sides were level on five occasions in this period.

Three further points from Shane Norberg, Declan Kelleher and Conor Kilcoyne, were matched for the Glen by Eoin O'Flaherty, Paul Hegarty and Derek O'Toole. Blackrock got their first free after 25 minutes and Roy Power then contributed three points from place balls before the interval, two frees and a 65.

Points from Kevin Barry and McDonnell left the score at Blackrock 0 -10 the Glen 0 -9 at half time. It was all to play for!

A long ball into the heart of the Blackrock defence resulted in Kevin Barry finding the net for an easy goal. However a great point from Stephen McCarthy, followed by Declan Kelleher brought Blackrock back into the game and by the mid point of the half the sides were level at 13 points to 1 - 10.

Then a similar long ball found Richard Whitty and he proceeded to bury it in the Blackrock net. Andrew Evans added a point to open up a gap between the sides. The Rockies had some chances; Eoin Buckley had a fine shot brilliantly saved at the post by Glen keeper, Cathal Hickey, while Eoin O'Farrell was extremely unlucky to be just wide with a close in effort. When Hickey later spilled a long ball from Roy Power, the forwards failed to get it over the line and it was cleared.

The Glen then proceeded to add five points with Evans and Whitty grabbing two a piece and Barry adding the fifth to a point from a placed ball by Power.

Blackrock: Gordon Ahern, Kieran O'Mahony, Ian Giltenan, David Carroll, Graham Howard, Richard Dineen, Ciaran Tobin, Shane Norberg, Conor Kilcoyne, Eoin Buckley, Declan Kelleher, Stephen Guerin, Eoin O'Farrell, Roy Power, Stephen McCarthy.

Minor Championship 2007.

Blackrock 4 - 13 Carrigaline 2 - 12 

Played at Ballygarvan on Thursday 23rd August

This Championship game never caught fire; it was a strange one in many ways! Played at Ballygarvan on Thursday 23rd August, Blackrock were 4 points down after 10 minutes, three goals up after 50 minutes, fighting for their lives in the final minutes and yet won by 7 points.

Roy Power missed the first three frees, yet went on to score 3 - 7 of the Blackrock total. Carrigaline had some brilliant individual players and dominated for a time yet did not convert their chances; Blackrock displayed a more collective approach and as a result emerged ahead.

The south-east team started well and was a goal and a point up after 10 minutes, the goal coming from Simon O'Brien who slipped in behind the Blackrock defence. Roy Power had the Rockies 1 -3 to 1 -1 ahead after 20 minutes from placed balls as the Carrigaline defence attempted to prevent the speedy Rocky forwards from breaking through.

Points from Declan Kelleher (he finished with four from play) and Stephen McCarthy as well as two more from Power from placed balls put the Rockies 5 points ahead. The sole response was a point from a free by Simon O'Brien.

When Power raced through to kick the ball to the net, the Blackrock side was coasting. Declan Kelleher added a further point. However with the Rockies took the foot off the pedal, Carrigaline clawed their way back into the game with points from Conor Hurley and Cian O'Sullivan and David Drake

It took a fantastic save from Gordon Ahern in the Blackrock goal in the 30th minute to keep the Rockies ahead at half time by 6 points as Robert Falvey from centre field and Tony Murphy from centre forward cut through the Blackrock defense in the lead up to half time.

The second half saw several exchanges of points. Declan Kelleher again taking his two very well following good runs. Simon O'Brien replied with points from frees and play Robert Falvey and Conor Hurley added several more. However when Roy Power added to a through ball to find the net in the 45th minute it left the score line at 3 - 12 to 1 - 9.

The addition of Eoin O'Farrell to centre field, while Graham Howard and Ciaran Tobin in the half back line continued to hurl well steadied the Rocky ship somewhat. A goal from a free by Tony Murphy for Carrigaline signalled a strong fight back and the Rocky goal came under siege with just four points in it. Some good work by Ian Giltinan, Brian Parsons and Ciaran O'Mahony, with a goal line saves from Gordon Ahern who also cleared the ball kept the 4 points intact as Carrig attacked in waves.

The siege was finally lifted and Stephen Guerin raced through the Carrigaline defence to fire in the insurance goal in the 62nd minute. This finally secured victory for the Rockies after a brave fight back by Carrigaline.

Blackrock:Gordon Ahern: Brian Parsons, Ian Giltinan, Ciaran O'Mahony; Graham Howard, Richard Dineen, Ciaran Tobin; Shane Norberg, Conor Kilcoyne;Steve Guerin, Brian Ahern,Declan Kelleher; Stephen McCarthy, Brian O'Sullivan,Roy Power;Eoin O'Farrell, Paul Bennett, Donal Murray.

Minor League 

Played at Church Road, Wednesday 11th July 2007.

 Blackrock 2 - 9 Newtownshandrum 1 - 13

This was a hard fought game with very little between the sides. Blackrock had a five point lead after 10 minutes of the second half but their failure to score (with the exception of a last minute point) in the remaining 20 minutes was ultimately to prove costly.

Declan Kelleher had opened the scoring for the Rockies however Ryan Clifford playing at full forward responded immediately. Clifford scored three more points in this half. The Rockies goal came from a low ball from David Meyler which was turned into the Newtown goal by the keeper under pressure from full forward Donal Murray. Stephen McCarthy put over a fine point from the wing while Meyler added two points from frees to leave the halftime score at 1 - 4 to 0 - 5.

Clifford immediately added a point on the resumption, followed soon after by a goal. The Rockies countered by a point from a free from Meyler. Then Stephen McCarthy fired in a goal after cutting in the back of the Newtown defence. Declan Kelleher, Brian Ahern and David Meyler from a free added to the tally to lead by five points, as the Blackrock half back line shut down the Newtown attack. Christy Bonus and Richard Dineen were particularly effective at this stage.

Newtown then counter attacked with Richard Farrissey sending over two fine points from play. As the Blackrock attack faded out, centre back Jack O'Herlihy came up the field to add another point for Newtown. With 10 minutes to go the Rockies led 2 - 8 to 1 - 8.

Again Clifford with three points and Farrissey with two left the North Cork team two ahead entering the final minutes when Bonus grabbed a lifeline for the Rockies. However it was came too late.

Cork Minor Championship

played at Pairc Ui Rinn on Friday 27th April 2007

Blackrock 1 - 12 Glen Rovers 2 - 8

A brilliant last five minute of hurling in which the Rockies picked off five consecutive points enabled them to edge out Glen Rovers in this thrilling Minor Championship game. Truthfully though, the Rockies probably deserved their victory as they had carried the game to the Glen for much of the hour. That said the Glen also threw away chances too and had about a dozen wides, some by literally inches.

The game was slow to ignite. By the 22nd minute it was just 3 points each. The Rockies score from three frees from Roy Power, while Richard Whitty matched that for the Glen. Both sides looked nervous, Roy Power, who had an outstanding game, was guilty of four wides, but not guilty of having a go, the Glen had missed eight.

In the 24th minute a lovely pass from Eoin O'Farrell to David Meyler saw Black rock's first point from play. This was followed immediately by a swift moment the entire length of the pitch, involving Ciaran O'Mahony (arguably man of the match!) to a weaving run from Steven Guerin to an inch perfect pass to Roy Power to the net. Truly a score to remember!

This left the interval position at Blackrock 1 - 4 to Glen Rover 0 - 3.

Richard Whitty scored two points after the resumption, one from play and a "65", however Declan Kelleher added a lovely point from wide out on the wing to leave a goal in it. Steven Guerin for the Rockies and Ian O' Regan for the Glen then exchanged points.

The game turned at this stage, first David Meyler and later Brian O' Sullivan were straight through on the Glen goal but both efforts did not yield a score. A few minutes later two lighting quick attacks by the Glen yielded two well taken goals. Brian O' Sullivan (Glen) batted in a lovely cross to the net while Paul Hegarty connected with another cross and also found the net. Christy Bonus had put over a point for the Rockies to leave the score at 2 - 6 to 1 - 7.

The Glen were now rampant and added two further points with Tiernan Spaine scoring a delightful point from the wing. With five minutes of normal time remaining, the Rockies had a mountain to climb, being four points down.

Roy Power contributed a point from a free, and then Steve Guerin added another from play. Brian O'Sullivan grabbed a third as the Rockies sensed victory. A difficult angled free from close in was then secured by a very composed Roy Power to leave matters level with normal time running out.

Blackrock were now attacking at every opportunity and as the huge crowd was on its feet in the excitement, up stepped Conor Kilcoyne to fire over the winning point. Four minutes of extra time was played by very competent referee Diarmuid Kirwan however the Rockies defence and discipline held firm.

This was a good hard game from two very disciplined and committed sides. While the Glen may have to take the scenic route, it is most unlikely they will disappear from this competition in 2007. The Rockies ability to run at the Glen caused an amount of problems for their defence; however some of the finishing could have been better.

Corner backs David Carroll and Ciaran O'Mahony were excellent in the Blackrock defence; the half back line stood their ground with the menacing Glen half forwards and thwarted many of their attacks. Declan Kelleher and Shane Norberg were very much in the game and kept the ball moving forward throughout the game. David Meyler and Steven Guerin were impressive and with more hurling will feature later in this championship. Brian O'Sullivan is brave to a fault and worked hard. The full forward line did a good job and prevented the Glen clearing ball easily. Roy Power is an excellent free taker in the Adrian Coughlan mould and kept the Glen backs busy, he had no luck on the night with his shots from play.

Blackrock: Gordon Aherne, David Carroll, Ian Giltinan, Ciaran O'Mahony, Graham Howard, Brian Aherne, Richard Dineen, Shane Norberg, Declan Kelleher, (0 - 1) David Meyler,(0 -1) Brian O'Sullivan, (0 - 1) Steven Guerin, (0 - 2) Eoin O'Farrell, Christopher Bonus, (0 -1) Roy Power, (1 - 5 5f.) Subs used, Conor Kilcoyne, (0 -1) Ciaran Tobin. Paul O'Brien, Paul Bennett, Donal Murray, Ciaran O'Herlihy, Brian Parsons, Elliot Cantwell, Ray Norberg, C Howick, Aonghus O' Drisceoil, Niall O'Shaughnessy, Darren Griffin, Brian Lyons.