Senior Hurling Championship

Senior Hurling Championship 

Played at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday 2nd July 

Blackrock 0 - 14 Midleton 1 - 11.

Blackrock will look back on this game with mixed feelings, happy to be still in the Championship but alarmed at the many missed chances for scores particularly in the second half. In the final minutes a series of frees awarded to Midleton allowed them to snatch a draw which they were fortunate to obtain after a poor second half performance.

The opening minutes were dominated by a series of points from frees by Adrian Coughlan and Mickey O'Connell. The only point from play came from David Cashman.The Rockies went three points up by the 20th minute when Alan Browne and Brian O'Keeffe joined in proceedings.

Then disaster struck for the Rockies when corner forward John Keane from Midleton grabbed an opportunist goal. Frank Barry made two outstanding saves in this period as Midleton tore major gaps in the Rocky defence, none more so than Daire Cott.

The half time score was Blackrock 0 - 8 Midleton 1 - 7.

A different Blackrock team emerged in the second half as the backs sorted themselves out and supplied ball after ball to the forwards, yet the scores refused to come. Missed opportunities were the order of the day for the Rockies. Eventually points from Adrian Coughlan (free) Joe Young and Alan Browne brought the sides level by the 20 minute. The dominance of the Blackrock backs, in particular Fergal Ryan (who was outstanding), John Browne and Chris Murphy gave Midleton few opportunities, while Wayne Sherlock curtailed the initial influence of Mickey O'Connell around the middle of the field.

Two good points from play from Joe Young and Brian O'Keeffe were countered by the points from the late frees by Mickey O'Connell and the game ended in a draw. The closeness of the scores kept the crowd interested however the Rockies should have been well ahead coming on the end if the chances had been converted. Whichever team will have learned more from this outing should take the replay.

The match was preceded by a minutes silence in memory of the late Brian Tobin.

Blackrock: Frank Barry, Wayne Sherlock, John Browne, Fergal Ryan, Ciaran Connery,Chris Murphy,Seam Murphy,David cashman, Adrian Coughlan,Joe Young,Liam Meaney,Colin O'Leary, Brian O'Keeffe, Alan Browne,Barry Hennerbry. Sub used, Derek Gosnell.