Daly's goal proves decisive as Erins Own hold out against UCC

GRITTY Erins Own held on to edge out UCC 1-8 to 0-9 in a hard-fought permanent tsb Cork County SHC contest at Pairc Ui Rinn last night with Sean Daly’s goal in the 22nd minute the decisive score.

With a host of inter-county players on view, much was expected from this game, but it failed to sparkle and the fact that neither side could manage a score for the last 26 minutes tells its own story.

It's all about winning however and Erins Own can look forward to round three while the students face a tricky second round against Glen Rovers.

Scorers: Erins Own: B. Corcoran 0-5 (frees); S. Daly 1-1; S. Dunne, F. Murphy 0-1 each. UCC: R. O'Doherty, I. McCarthy, T. Kenny (0-1 65), J. Fitzpatrick (frees) 0-2 each; E. Collins 0-1.

Despite losing the services of some quality players in recent times, Imokilly still remain a potent force in the SHC as evidenced by their facile 0-28 to 0-8 victory over Carbery at Páirc Uí Rinn last evening.

Imokilly impressed with a litany of fine long-range points and could be serious contenders for the crown they wore with distinction on two occasions before the turn of the millennium.

Carbery, who trailed 0-15 to 0-7 at the break, were mere whipping boys for Imokilly in the second-half.

Scorers: Imokilly: J. Smiddy 0-8 (0-4 from frees), N. McCarthy, D. Barrett, E. Conway, K. Morrison 0-4 each; B. Coleman 0-2, L. Ahern, S. O'Leary 0-1 each. Carbery: D. Lucey, M. Walsh (frees) 0-2 each, C. Daly, J. Hickey, D. O'Donoghue, A. Fleming 0-1 each.

MISSION accomplished for Blarney in the permanent tsb Cork County Premier IHC at Ovens last night as they beat St. Finabarr's second string 0-13 to 0-10.

Blarney were worthy winners in an often rough and tough contest. Great defensive work by Daniel Cronin and Mark McCarthy cut out the supply that was going into the Barrs' full forward line, particularly in the opening 30 minutes, when the city side were playing with the strong wind. Thus, they were finding scores difficult to come by.

Scorers: Blarney: A Shanahan 0-5 (0-2 frees, 0-1 65m), R McNamara, J Hurley and C Sheehan 0-2 each, D O'Leary and J Hughes 0-1 each. St Finbarr's: K Kelleher 0-5 (0-3 frees), V Cooney 0-3 (frees), E Pól O'Callaghan and T Olden 0-1 each.

In the IHC Blackrock, despite trailing by five points at the interval, produced a storming final quarter comeback to beat Eire Óg 0-11 to 0-10 at Ballinhassig on Saturday.

But, on the general run of the play, they weren't flattered to finish with a point to spare over an Éire Óg side that struggled at midfield and in attack.

Éire Óg will now meet Bandon in the second round.

Scorers: Blackrock: E. Kiely 0-6, 0-5 frees, L. Meaney 0-2, P. O'Sullivan, A. Ryan, free, and M. O'Keeffe 0-1 each. Eire Óg: T. O'Leary 0-4 frees, T. Dineen 0-2 frees, N. Brennan, J. Malone, R. O'Driscoll and D. Corkery 0-1 each.

A game to forget in Cloughduv on Saturday, Valley Rovers merely doing enough to see off the attentions of St. Vincent's in booking a place in the next round.

Plenty of scoring, even some good individual performances, but this game simply never ignited. There was no championship bite, the first touch was very poor and youngsters Kevin Canty and Cian Barry apart they got nine point between them there was little to enthuse about.

No question Valley Rovers were the better hurling team, scored some good points, with Eamonn Collin coming more into the picture in the second-half with a goal and two points.

Scorers: Valley Rovers: K. Canty 0-6, E. Collins 1-2 (1-0 free) J. Hurley 0-4 (0-1 '65, 0-1 free), R. Butler, B. Canty (0-2 frees) 0-3 each, E. Manning 0-1. St. Vincent's : D. O'Callaghan 1-3 (0-3 frees), C. Barry 0-3, F. Murphy, A. Buckley 0-1 (free) 0-1 each.