Brilliant Blackwater power past Charleville

Blackwater CS 3-20 Charleville CBS 0-9

Leading 2-7 to 0-6 after playing against the wind in the first half, Bennett and Mikey Kearney with the early goals, the Waterford school took complete control in the second period and pulled away.

Bennett’s free-taking was exemplary and he was good in open play too, Kearney and David Geary also impressing, while Bennett’s brother Stephen, at centre-back, and full-back Colm Roche kept things tight.

While Shane Bennett’s first-minute goal gave Blackwater a dream start, Charleville could have seized the lead when awarded a penalty after Jack Barry’s point, but Roche made a good stop to deny Pa O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan, who scored seven of his side’s points, put over the resultant 65 and briefly levelled after that, but when Kearney struck for Blackwater’s goal in the 17th minute, it made it 2-3 to 0-4 and by half-time, the lead was increased to seven points.

Charleville suffered through losing centre-back Conor Twomey early in the second half and after a slow start, Blackwater began to push clear, Kearney with his second goal and his side’s third.

Only good saves from Charleville goalkeeper Michael Browne prevented further green flags but the traffic was only going one way and Blackwater finished strongly to win by 20 points.

Scorers for Blackwater CS: Shane Bennett 1-11 (0-9fs), M Kearney 2-1, J Shanahan, C Murray 0-2 each, Stephen Bennett, D Geary (0-1f), S O’Brien, A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Charleville CBS: P O’Callaghan 0-7 (3fs, 1 65), J Buckley, J Barry 0-1 each.

BLACKWATER CS: S Barry; K Bennett, C Roche, J Ring; C Leamy, Stephen Bennett, D Meagher; C Murray, P Coleman; Shane Bennett, D Geary, N Fives; M Kearney, S O’Brien, R O’Sullivan. Subs: A O’Sullivan for R O’Sullivan (ht), J Shanahan for Geary, B Ryan for Roche, P Hennessy for Meagher, A O’Dwyer for Leamy (all 58).

CHARLEVILLE CBS: M Browne; P O’Loughlin, D Cotter, C O’Gorman; E O’Leary, C Twomey, D Butler; J Buckley, J Fitzgerald; J Barry, P O’Callaghan, J McCarthy; D Casey, D Browne, C Laffan. Subs: S Griffin for Laffan (ht), K McCarthy for Twomey, J Moloney for Barry (both 37).

Referee: N Cosgrave (Tipperary).