Rockies had to dig deep to withstand frenzied pressure

Blackrock 2-13 Kilmoyley 1-12

After leading 1-4 to 0-0 inside the opening six minutes, the Rockies took their foot off the pedal, and came perilously close to paying the supreme price. Blackrock set out their stall early on, and Brian O’Keeffe had the ball in the net after just 25 seconds. Four points without reply quickly followed, and the small crowd sat back expecting a complete rout.

That it didn’t happen was down to the incredible heart and commitment of the Kerry champions. Only the Rockies’ greater stickwork pulled them out of the tightest of corners.

Understandably, team coach Timmy Murphy was a relieved man at the end. “Not for the first time this year the so-called ‘hurlers on the ditch’ got it wrong, completely underestimating Kilmoyley”, he said.

“We in Blackrock certainly didn’t get it wrong. We knew from last year’s experience it was going to be a very difficult game for us.” We had them watched in the recent Kerry county final, and since winning that they had been playing a game a week. Unlike ourselves, they were match fit. It would be fair to say some harsh words were said at the break, but it worked and the lads upped the tempo on the change over. However in the end we can count ourselves lucky to have survived, but it’s a game that should stand us in good stead for next Sunday’s semi-final against Sixmilebridge in Ennis”.

In a splendid contest, and after the Rockies stormed into an early seven points to nil lead, Kilmoyley, superbly led by “man of the match” Shane Brick at centre forward, thundered into the game, and by the end of the opening half were 1-7 to 0-7 in arrears, Brick scoring all his side’s points, five of them from frees.

He had the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but it was ruled out as the referee had blown for a free.

Only the brilliance of Trevor Barry in goal denied the Kerry side at least one goal, and such was the dominance of the visitors, Barry was completely overworked in comparison to his opposite number.

The Rockies resumed the second half with their coach’s stinging words still ringing in their ears, and in the space of 10 minutes had stretched their lead to 10 points after David Cashman first time the ball to the net after Alan Browne failed to hold Adrian Coughlan’s ‘65’.

For the second time in the match the Cork champions were expected to have it all their own way from there to the finish, but Kilmoyley hadn’t read the script.

In a devastating 15 minute spell, and inspired by the brilliance of centre back Liam Walsh and Shane Brick, they rocked the Rockies right back on their heels with four unanswered points and when Brick billowed the net from a 20 minute free with five minutes to go, it set the scene for a grandstand finish.

Only some superb defending by Wayne Sherlock and Noel Keane kept the eager Kilmoyley forwards at bay and two points late in the game, and the final whistle, brought tremendous relief to Blackrock.

A bitterly disappointed Kilmoyley coach John Myler felt the real difference between the sides was the ease with which Blackrock got some of their scores.

“We were almost totally reliant on Shane (Brick) for scores. He scored 1-10, which left two points among the other five forwards. That’s not good enough and we have to remedy that if we are to make progress at this level.

“I cannot fault the players for effort. They gave it everything, but you cannot afford to give a team like Blackrock a seven point start and expect to claw it back. It doesn’t work that way”.

Kilmoyley’s effort did much to enhance the game of hurling in the Kingdom and if the clubs in the county can all pull together, Waterford could have a very serious challenge on their hands in next year’s Munster SHC.

Scorers for Blackrock: B. O’Keeffe 1-2; B. Hennebry, A. Coughlan (frees) 0-4 each; D. Cashman 1-0; P. Tierney 0-2; L. Meaney 0-1.

Kilmoyley: S. Brick 1-10 (1-6 frees); C. Walsh, P. O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: T. Barry; W. Sherlock, N. Keane, J. Browne; D. O’Sullivan, A. Cummins, F. Ryan; A. Coughlan, . P. Tierney; B. Hennebry, L. Meaney, J. Young; D. Cashman, A. Browne, B. O’Keeffe. Subs. C. Connolly for O’Sullivan; D. Gosnell for Cashman.

KILMOYLEY: J. Walsh; P. McCarthy, P. Regan, I. Brick; S. Fitzgerald, L. Walsh, J. McCarthy; R. Gentleman, D. Young; B. Brick, S. Brick, M. Murnane; P. O’Sullivan, O. Diggin, M. O’Regan. Subs. C. Walsh for Diggin; S. Griffin for I. Brick.

Referee: P. Moore (Waterford).