Early goal blast decisive for Blackwater

BLACKWATER Community School from Lismore lifted the Corn Mhic Ruairi under-18 hurling championship title, following victory over Hamilton High School, Bandon at Fermoy yesterday.

A four-goal blast in the first half put Blackwater in pole position at the break and ultimately they won because of their ability to hit back whenever Hamilton threatened to come within range.

Hamilton did succeed in narrowing the deficit to three points on occasion but the overall scoring expertise of Blackwater told in the end.

Corner forward Chris O’Gorman opened the floodgates for Blackwater when he raced on to a high lobbing ball from midfielder Mark Landers before rounding goalkeeper Peter Shorten and shooting into an empty net in the 7th minute.

Blackwater struck again 10-minutes later when, after Shorten pulled off a miraculous save to deny John Nugent, Ronan Walsh scooped the rebound home.

Due in the main to the endeavours of captain Conor O’Driscoll, Hamilton held on to stay in contention but another brace of goals from centre forward Sean Leahy, and O’Gorman again, powered the Waterford students into an interval lead of 4-2 to 0-6.

Hamilton began the restart positively when substitute David Crowley goaled with his first touch.

And when wing forward David Kelly hit his side’s second at the end of the third quarter to bring Hamilton to within three points of their opponents for the first time the contest was in the melting pot.

Blackwater responded with a second goal from team skipper Leahy in the 47th minute but following a fine individual goal from Conor O’Driscoll Hamilton again came within three points.

Once again however, Blackwater’s great recovery powers were evidenced to the full when Maurice Shanahan registered their sixth goal, three minutes from the end of normal time.

Hamilton made their last stand with a second goal from David Crowley two minutes into injury time but with three points again the difference between them Blackwater sealed victory with a Maurice Shanahan point from a free.

Scorers: Blackwater CS: S. Leahy 2-0; C. O’Gorman 2-0; M. Shanahan 1-3 (0-2 from frees); R. Walsh 1-1; F. Murray 0-2. Hamilton HS: D. Crowley 2-0; C. O’Driscoll 1-4 (0-3 from frees); D. Kelly 1-0; K. Coffey 0-2 (0-2 from frees); S. Crowley and P. Cooney 0-1 each.

Blackwater CS: P. Prendergast; L. Byrne, K. Moroney, D. Wilkinson; P. Bennett, S. O’Rourke, D. Fives; M. Landers, K. Geary; M. Shanahan, S. Leahy, R. Walsh; F. Murray, J. Nugent, C. O’Gorman.

Hamilton HS: P. Shorten; C. Lehane, M. Murphy, C. Ryan; B. Collins, C. O’Driscoll, B. Horgan; P. Cooney, P. Brennan; E. Kelleher, S. Crowley, D. Kelly; M. Bradfield, K. Coffey, P. Crowley. Substitutes. T. O’Donoghue for Coffey (leg injury); D. Crowley for Byrne; J. Desmond for O’Donoghue; J. Wall for Bradfield.

Referee: M. Meade (Limerick).