Blarney coach O’Mahony reflects on 'strange' rematch win

Following their penalty shoot-out defeat a fortnight ago, the result was reversed after Blarney successfully appealed against Bride Rovers’ 16th man.

Sun, 15 Oct, 2023 - 15:05

Therese O’Callaghan, Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Blarney 3-15 Bride Rovers 1-12

The momentum swung with Blarney in this re-fixed Co-Op Superstores SAHC semi-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday. Not alone did they embrace this unusual situation, but they laid down a notable marker ahead of the showdown with Newcestown on Sunday next (4pm).

Following a penalty shoot-out a fortnight ago, the result was reversed after they successfully appealed against Bride Rovers’ 16th man.

A different, if unavoidable, approach followed for this penultimate round.

“We missed most of the first week training, we didn’t know the outcome of the appeal until late in the week,” explained coach and former Limerick hurler Gavin O’Mahony, who came on board this season.

“I think maybe the extra few days off did them no harm. The first game was as physical a game as they have been involved with, they were sore, obviously the extra-time and penalties too. They enjoyed themselves for a night or two, a bit of a distraction to what was going on.

Blarney coach Gavin O'Mahony against Bride Rovers' during the Co-Op Superstores Cork SAHC semi final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

“This week, from a training point of view, it was more from the shoulders up. It is not an easy thing to do, to be tied up in that. It is unfortunate for Bride, it is not a nice experience.

“To be fair to our lads, the players were driving this. They felt a small bit hard done by. By doing that, they put an extra bit of pressure on themselves to perform and step up today. Thankfully it came good for us.”

As two contrasting hurling worlds clashed, it turned out to be Liam Barry’s worst nightmare. There was nothing the manager could do, as inside the white line they were running on empty. They depended too much on Adam Walsh for scores.

Three first half goals from Mark Coleman (penalty), Shane Barrett and his brother Cian sucked the life out of them, 3-4 to 0-8. Cillian Tobin’s major, too late.

So after all that, Blarney and Newcestown’s opening group game will also be their last. A little over two months ago they locked horns and fine margins decided in favour of the west Cork outfit (2-18 to 0-21).

“It is a strange one for us,” O’Mahony concluded. “We were down in the dumps for a few days after the last match. We are on a high now. We will try and find a balance in between.

"That is one of the messages to the group throughout; the highs are never too high and the lows are never too low. Keep doing what you need to do.”

Scorers for Blarney: S Barrett (1-6, 0-2 fs), M Coleman (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1 sl), C Barrett (1-0), P Power (0-2), O Hegarty, P Crowley, C Hegarty and J O’Keeffe (0-1 each).

Scorers for Bride Rovers: A Walsh (0-9, 0-4 fs, 0-1 65), C Tobin (1-0 f), D Dooley, J Ahern and L Roche (0-1 each).

BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, P O’Leary, D Murphy; J O’Keefe, P Crowley, C Power (Capt); O Hegarty, C Hegarty; S Mulcahy, C Dunlea, S Barrett; P Power, M Coleman, S Barrett.

Subs: E Kirby for C Barrett (54), C McCarthy for C Dunlea (56), K Costello for P Power (59), M O’Leary for M Coleman (62), W Crowley for S Barrett (63).

BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; T O’Sullivan, D Cashman, C Hazelwood; K Kearney, E Roche (Capt), S O’Connor; B Roche, J Ahern; C Ryan, R O’Connell, W Finnegan; D Dooley, A Walsh, C Tobin.

Subs: L Roche for W Finnegan (28), J Mannix for D Dooley, C O’Connor for C Ryan (both half-time), D Barry for C Hazelwood (43), M Collins for J Ahern (55).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).