Fergal Ryan hails 'unbelievable' Blackrock bench after epic extra-time contest with UCC

Blackrock hang in to deny students at the death in Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Daniel Meaney of Blackrock in action against Paddy O'Loughlin of UCC during the Cork County Premier Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final match between Blackrock and UCC at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Cork PSHC semi-final: UCC 0-34 BLACKROCK 3-26 

A battle for the ages in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon, as Blackrock and UCC fought out an extra-time thriller for a place in the Cork Premier SHC final.

A game of 63 scores ended with the Rockies victorious by one point after over 80 minutes of hurling. At times in the game the students were getting their scores with greater ease, but credit the men from the village for hanging in there and hitting the last four points to get over the line.

“That was unbelievable,” said Blackrock manager Fergal Ryan after the game.

“There were times it seemed UCC had the momentum but the lads came back every time we were down.

“I think our subs had a big impact, this team’s been together four or five years, and their willingness to stay in the game and get a couple of scores was unbelievable.”

Both teams took a while finding their range, with Blackrock struggling early on to counter UCC’s seven-man defence.

Still, when the Rockies’ David O’Farrell and UCC’s Conor Boylan swapped points before the first water break, it was 0-5 apiece, and soon afterwards Blackrock found the net. Shane O’Keeffe looked bottled up near the UCC goal but he improvised a goal, and the impressive John O’Sullivan’s point soon afterwards made it 1-6 to 0-5 on 20 minutes.

Credit UCC, they duly hit five in a row to push ahead by the 27th minute. A late brace from Shane Conway, finding his range in ominous fashion, put UCC ahead at the half, 0-13 to 1-9.

The Rockies began the second half with another Shane O’Keeffe goal — another finish from close range — but UCC hit four points in return to edge ahead, 0-17 to 2-9.

Rockies sub Tadgh Deasy helped to turn the tide, but UCC still benefited from Conway’s accuracy all the way to the water-break, when a superb sideline cut from the Kerryman put them 0-20 to 2-12 ahead.

Deasy responded with a similar score, but UCC still looked in control. However, Alan Connolly struck one-handed to goal for Blackrock: 3-13 to 2-12 and seven minutes left.

Both sides raced for the finish line, and UCC stand-out Padraig Power pushed his side two ahead, but Niall Cashman responded and Connolly levelled with a free: extra-time.

Barrett and Conway (two frees) hit UCC points on the resumption but Meaney and Deasy responded for Blackrock. UCC led at half-time in extra time, 0-30 to 3-20.

Conway would push UCC three ahead but Deasy hit back superbly and then Blackrock pushed for home.

Alan O’Sullivan and sub Robbie Cotter levelled the game with three minutes left and Connolly gave them victory with two late frees.

Ryan acknowledged there wasn’t much coaching possible in the closing stages: “Absolutely not, you can hardly hear what you’re shouting onto the field and they can hardly hear you.

“They have to work it out while they’re out there, really, it’s just a matter of getting the bit between the teeth and not letting go — it wasn’t any changes we made, we took fellas off when we thought they’d given what they could. It’s down to them.

“The goals were crucial, they brought us back into it every time we got them, or put us ahead, so they were very important.”

In the UCC corner manager Tom Kenny was understandably downbeat.

“We put everything into the game and we played well. Small decisions aside, Blackrock were worthy winners.

“You make your luck in a game and they won it, they saw it out. Their subs came on and had a big impact in getting them over the line.

“We got 34 points. We probably needed one goal chance, to stick it, but these guys have been fantastic. A lot of them have won two Fitzgibbon Cup medals and they have distinguished careers ahead of them. We can’t fault them, not one bit.”

For Ryan and his management team there are pleasant headaches ahead, like whether or not to start Tadhg Deasy, who helped turn the game for Blackrock.

“Tadhg’s an unbelievable player, he’s a live wire, he got five points, including a sideline.

“He and John Cashman were probably upset they didn’t start but they had a holiday and they’d been playing football every second week, so they just didn’t get a run of hurling.

“But they impressed when they came on, so it’s going to be a tough challenge picking a team for the final.”

As the players left the stadium Tom Kenny said: “From the very start we asked the players to give the jersey everything, and they’ve done that and more.”

True of UCC. True of Blackrock.

Scorers for UCC: S. Conway (0-14, 9 frees, 1 sideline); P. Power (0-6); C. Boylan, S. Barrett (0-3 each); D. Griffin, M. Kehoe (0-2 each); M. Coleman, A. Casey, E. Desmond, B. Verling (0-1 each).

Scorers for Blackrock: S. O’Keeffe (2-1); A. Connolly (1-7, 5 frees 1 65); T. Deasy (0-5, 1 sideline); J. O’Sullivan (0-4); N. Cashman (0-2 1 free 1 65); D. Meaney, M. O’Keeffe (0-2 each); Cathal Cormack, D. O’Farrell, R. Cotter (0-1 each).

UCC: (Cork unless stated) D. Desmond (Éire Óg, c); E. Clifford (Cloughduv), D. Lowney (Clonakilty), K. O’Dwyer (Killenaule, Tipperary); M. Coleman (Blarney), P. O’Loughlin (Kilmallock, Limerick), D. Griffin (Clonakilty); K O’Leary (Castlelyons), P. Cadell (JK Brackens); A. Casey (Ballyduff Upper, Waterford), S. Conway (Lixnaw, Kerry), M. Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, Tipperary); S. Barrett (Blarney), P. Power (Blarney), C. Boylan (Na Piarsaigh, Limerick).

Subs: E. Desmond (Carrigaline) for O’Leary (HT); O. McCarthy (Inniscarra) for Casey (67); B. Verling (Cloughduv) for Boylan (68); M.

BLACKROCK: G Connolly; J. Ryan, G Norberg, R Laide; CathaL Cormack, N Cashman, S. Murphy; D Meaney, D O’Farrell; S O’Keeffe, Ciaran Cormack, M O’Keeffe; M O’Halloran, A. Connolly, J O’Sullivan.

Subs: J. Cashman and T. Deasy for O’Farrell and M. O’Keeffe (39); A. O’Callaghan for O’Halloran (68); K. O’Keeffe for Murphy (73).

Referee: J. Larkin (Ballinora).