Senior County Hurling Quarter Final 2004

Senior County Hurling Quarter Final.

Played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Saturday September 25th 2004.

Blackrock 0 --- 15 Glen Rovers 1 --- 12

This was a very tight match, the Glen were ahead all through the first half, Blackrock ahead all through the second half (on two occasions by 4 points). It was a match that the Rockies should have won but could have lost. A draw was eventually acceptable.

There were 8 bad wides in the first ten minutes, the Glen having 5 as the teams settled down. By the 20th minute the Northsiders were 5 points to 1 ahead, with Cork senior panellist John Anderson firing over 4 of them from play, 2 frees and a 65. Enda Kiely got a nice point from play to open the Rockies account.

In the 23 minute Adrian Coughlan pointed from a free, followed by a Joe Young point from play. When Brian O'Keeffe was fouled a minute later, Alan Browne popped over another from about 25 meters. Further points from play from John Anderson and Adrian Coughlan left the score at the interval, Blackrock 0 --- 5 Glen Rovers 0 --- 6.

Stephen O'Keeffe and David Cashman came on at half time for Gary Norberg and Enda Kiely. Trevor made the first of him two amazing blocks/robberies immediately after half time when David Busteed broke clear and set up Gavin Moylan who was clean through a somewhat hesitant Rockies defence. Alan Browne then levelled matters from a free.

Three points from play from David Cashman, Barry Hennebry and Joe Young were countered by one from John Anderson when a replica of the Glen goal attempt above was again thwarted by the alert Trevor Barry in goal. The Rockies upped the tempo and points followed from Alan Browne and Brian O'Keeffe. Paul Tierney thundered into the game at centre back and they looked to be in the driving seat. Derek Gosnell came in for Stephen O'Keeffe and the back lines were reorganised, with Paul McGrath playing a deeper role.

Liam Meaney picked off a nice point after a switch to full forward, while Alan Browne caught some good ball when he came outfield. This was followed by one from Barry Hennebry, while Anderson answered with two more from a 65 and a free. In the 20th minute came a key moment when Tadhg Murphy came through the middle, the ball was blocked, an attempted clearance by Wayne Sherlock was blocked and the ball broke across to Murphy who goaled.

One point in it! 10 minutes left.

Alan Browne pointed a close in free after David Cashman was fouled. John Browne took the ball virtually off the line after a further Glen attack. Sean McGrath fired over his first point to leave a point in it. The final score for the Rockies fell to Brian O'Keeffe, while John Anderson (who finished with 10 points) put over two further frees.

The final act in the drama was a long range effort from Barry Hennebry which drifted to the left of the posts. Referee Ken Healy then called it a day.

The Glen looked happier as they had salvaged a draw, against the media favourites, and had clearer goal scoring chances than the Rockies. They must be concerned however at the failure of their forwards to score points from play, with the exception of Anderson who got three from play, only McGrath and Busteed managed points.

The Rockies on the other hand scored 11 from play spread over 8 players; however they in turn will be concerned at the failure to create goalscoring chances. This match will probably stand to them and now they have been warned of the obvious threat to them from this Glen team, which also drew with Imokilly in the last round, and caught them in the replay. It should be an interesting game.

Blackrock; Trevor Barry, Wayne Sherlock, John Browne (Capt) Gary Norberg, Aidan Ryan, Paul Tierney, Fergal Ryan, Adrian Coughlan, Paul McGrath, Barry Hennebry, Liam Meaney, Joe Young, Brian O'Keeffe,Alan Browne, Enda Kiely. Subs. Stephen O'Keeffe, David Cashman, Derek Gosnell and Pat O'Sullivan.

Scorers. Alan Browne 4 points (3 frees), Adrian Coughlan 2 points (1 free), Joe Young 2 points, Barry Hennebry 2 points,  Brian O'Keeffe 2 points,  David Cashman 1 point,  Liam Meaney 1 point,  Enda Kiely 1 point.