William Connolly's goal proves crucial for Watergrasshill

Watergrasshill 1-15 Blarney 0-14: Watergrasshill deservedly took the spoils from an exciting Cork PIHC first round tie at Riverstown yesterday, but only after a late goal from William Connolly put this game beyond the reach of battling Blarney.

Connolly’s 32nd-minute strike came as Watergrasshill fought to maintain a single point advantage and Blarney were pressing hard for an equaliser.

Overall, however, the better side won, at least team mentor Ciaran O’Neill believed that was the case: “I suppose we lacked a bit of composure in the first-half, we took wrong options at times but you’ll get that in the first championship game of the year.