Alan Connolly leads the charge as Blackrock secure first Cork title in 18 years

Alan Connolly's 13 points also key to victory over Glen Rovers

Blackrock’s Ross Coleman celebrates after the game. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Cork Premier SHC: Blackrock 4-26 Glen Rovers 4-18

A final to be treasured, a title that will be adored.

In any other year, the prospect of a second day would prompt mass salivation. But Blackrock had waited long enough and in six extra-time minutes 18 years of pain were blown away with the gale that enveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Any fears that they were going to be troubled by a second extra-time game in the space of a week were well and truly dismissed with that 2-4 salvo, the goals coming from Shane O’Keeffe and Robbie Cotter.

A team of substance, it was no surprise that Glen Rovers, with Patrick Horgan carrying the flag, mounted a fightback and that 10-point difference was whittled down to three points eight minutes into the second half. But they were chasing and when Cotter exposed that desperation with his second goal the Rockies were crowned with their 33rd senior county title.

The worst kept secret that is Alan Connolly will be known nationwide after this display of maturity. In previous rounds such as the semi-final, he had shown the conviction to stand up when it was most counted. He had scored more difficult frees than the one he scored here to send the match into extra-time but then it was one of several he had won himself.

Alan Connolly of Blackrock scores a free to tie the game and take it to extra time. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Then there is the depth of this panel that Fergal Ryan has groomed these last five years. After what the reserves had done to help beat UCC the week before, keeping players of Cotter and Tadhg Deasy’s calibre on the bench for another week was a gamble but it paid off handsomely. Along with Alan O’Callaghan, they fired 3-5.

“We had a long debate about this on Wednesday night, down in Blackrock Hurling Club and whether we would start certain lads,” smiled Ryan. “The view we took was in the last couple of games we got a massive bounce from the subs when they came on. The same happened today.

“I think it was 3-5 somebody said, I knew it was good but I didn’t know it was that. That’s fantastic. I’ll probably get a couple of looks off them for not starting them but I hope they understand it. We weren’t making any decision based on any individual; it was based on what gives us the best opportunity to win. Bringing them on did gave us that bounce.” It wasn’t that Ryan’s starting line-up hadn’t done a good job but the five-point advantage at half-time in normal time - 0-12 to 0-7 - appeared a little shy given the wind benefit. They had also struck nine wides in that period and with Horgan’s range it appeared they would be reeled in.

Tadhg Deasy of Blackrock celebrates after scoring his side's first goal in the win over Glen Rovers. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Five minutes into the new half and they were, not by Horgan’s marksmanship but a brace of goals by Simon Kennefick. The first just seconds in followed a lengthy Stephen McDonnell solo; the second a result of the full-forward following up on his shot that Blackrock goalkeeper Gavin Connolly had managed to parry.

When Horgan blasted the inside of the post to convert a 65 in the 39th minute, Glen Rovers were ahead for the first time since the eighth minute after they had begun the game with three unanswered scores.

But then Blackrock’s cavalry began to work their magic, Deasy embarking on a strong solo before firing low past Cathal Hickey. A John O’Sullivan point and a Connolly free followed and almost all of Glen Rovers’ good work had been undone.

Yet by the time Cathal McAllister called for the second water break the Glen were back on level terms, largely thanks to Mark Dooley’s 46th minute goal. Liam Coughlan had initially smacked the crossbar with his effort but did well to catch the rebound and feed Dooley.

A mighty Horgan point put Glen Rovers ahead once more but they couldn’t push on. Instead, Connolly cut the gale with a fine free and then Cotter and Dooley each scored a couple.

All in all, the sides were on level terms four times from the 49th minute to full-time. An Adam O’Donovan point was cancelled out by a marvellous Deasy sideline cut and just when Horgan had manufactured a point out of nowhere Connolly won and converted that vital free.

Cathal McCormack and Gary Norberg of Blackrock with David Cunningham of Glen Rovers. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

There was little indication that score had bellowed the chests of Blackrock to do what they next but they were irresistible upon the restart. After Connolly and O’Callaghan points came Shane O’Keeffe’s goal when he followed in Connolly’s score attempt.

At the other end, Horgan was denied a goal opportunity but only after another couple of Blackrock points and when Cotter added his first goal in the 67th minute the game seemed done.

The next four scores were Horgan’s including a penalty goal he had earned himself but Cotter’s second goal confirmed what already appeared to be on the cards, another title for the roll of honour toppers to cap what was a pretty incredible competition.

To win one of the best championships in years? “It’s nice if people are saying that,” Ryan said, “but I would have won completely ugly today and been just as happy I can tell you. But if you’re involved it’s always nice to have a good game of hurling. It’s good for Cork.”

Scorers for Blackrock: A Connolly (0-13, 10 frees); R Cotter (2-2); T Deasy (0-1 sideline), S O’Keeffe (1-1 each); N Cashman, D Meaney, M O’Halloran, A O’Callaghan (0-2 each); J O’Sullivan (0-1).

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan (1-11, 1-0 pen, 5 frees, 2 65s); S Kennefick (2-0); M Dooley (1-2); A O’Donovan (0-2); L Coughlan, D Brosnan (0-1 each).

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

Subs for Blackrock: T Deasy for M O’Keeffe, J Cashman for R Laide (both 38); R Cotter for Ciaran Cormack, A O’Callaghan for J Ryan (both 52); K O’Keeffe for J O’Sullivan (60); E O’Farrell for A O’Farrell (69); M O’Halloran for M O’Keeffe (76).

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; S McDonnell, R Downey, D Dooling; A Lynch, B Moylan (c), D Noonan; D Cronin, A O’Donovan; D Brosnan, P Horgan, M Dooley; C Dorris, S Kennefick, L Coughlan.

Subs for Glen Rovers: D Cunningham for C Dorris (42); C Healy for D Dooling, D Tynan for D Brosnan (both 55); L Horgan for D Cronin (58); G Kennefick for L Coughlan, D Brosnan for D Tynan (e-t h-t); D Morris for A O’Donovan (inj 75). 

Referee: C McAllister.