CORK FORWARDS PROVED key today in propelling last year’s finalists Blackrock and Glen Rovers into the quarter-finals of the county premier senior hurling championship today.
Alan Connolly shot 2-9, with 2-6 of that tally arriving in the second half as Blackrock defeated St Finbarr’s 3-22 to 0-21 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. St Finbarr’s were squeezed out of Group C after Erins Own hit a late point to draw 1-23 to 2-20 against Charleville, to ensure they grabbed a place in the knockout stages.
Elsewhere in Group A, Patrick Horgan was the scoring hero for Glen Rovers with his return of 2-13 helping them edge out Newtownshandrum by 2-20 to 2-19. Horgan struck 2-4 from play in his team’s victory with Jamie Coughlan top scorer with 1-7 for Newtownshandrum. That pushed Glen Rovers into second place with Newtown exiting. Douglas had already qualified but clinched their third group success by 0-20 to 1-10 against Bishopstown, Shane Kingston shooting 0-10.
In Group C, the clash of Sarsfields against Midleton determined who would advance straight to the semi-finals with both already assured of places in the knockout stages. Sarsfields ran out comfortable winners by 3-21 to 2-14 in Páirc Uí Rinn while the other game in that group saw Na Piarsaigh preserve their senior status thanks to their 0-21 to 0-16 success over Carrigtwohill.
The battle to avoid the drop will now be contested by Carrigtwohill and Charleville.
Cork Premier Senior Hurling Fixtures
Quarter-finals
- Douglas v Blackrock
- Erins Own v Midleton
- Glen Rovers v Imokilly
Semi-final
- Sarsfields bye
Relegation final
- Carrigtwohill v Charleville
The main game of the day saw Blackrock preserve their interest in this year’s championship as they have bounced back from an opening group loss to Erins Own. The winners were in front 0-13 to 0-10 at the interval before Connolly hit the net twice in the third quarter and then Michael O’Halloran fired home their third goal in the 48th minute, just after the water break.
With ten minutes left Blackrock were 3-19 to 0-14 clear but St Finbarr’s did chip away at that deficit late on, their hopes resting on whether Charleville could defeat Erins Own. Cork All-Ireland U20 winners Ben Cunningham (0-10), Brian Hayes (0-3) and Jack Cahalane (0-2) all chipped in with points while Cork senior Conor Cahalane raised a trio of white flags.
But Blackrock were too strong with Mark O’Keeffe (0-3) and Michael O’Halloran (1-2) both impressing. St Finbarr’s lost out by ten points and were edged out by Erins Own claiming a draw in their game, thankful for 0-13 by Eoghan Murphy while Cork senior Darragh Fitzgibbon had scored 1-12 for Charleville.
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