Blarney come through thriller with Killeagh to book last-four spot

The East Cork outfit put it up to the favourites in a feisty quarter-final encounter.
Blarney come through thriller with Killeagh to book last-four spot

Killeagh's Ryan McCarthy hammers the ball to the Blarney net past Paul Hallissey, during their Senior AHC quarter-final at Midleton. Picture: David Keane.

Blarney 3-20 Killeagh 3-16 

A pulsating Co-Op Superstores Cork senior A HC quarter-final eventually went the way of favourites Blarney at Midleton on Sunday, but they weren’t safe until the final whistle.

So much to admire from both teams in this feisty encounter..

Abundant character from Michael Barrett’s Blarney to see this out.

Abundant character from Bryan McCarthy’s Killeagh, especially after losing full-back Patrick O’Brien in the warm-up.

Manager Michael Barrett (father of Shane and Cian) said they expected a stern test.

“To be fair, for times we were at the pin of our collar to work it out. I’m glad we did. I think the breeze had a big factor, it was diagonal. We were happy at half-time (having played against it). Killeagh brought us back down to earth pretty fast after our good start.” 

Heavily tipped to win, it looked as if the punters were correct when Cian Barrett goaled for Blarney on two minutes after linking with Mark Coleman. When Pádraig Power scored the ‘Goal of the Year’ three minutes later after his wonderful fetch from Patrick’s Crowley delivery and one-handed flick to the net, they appeared to be coasting towards success.

But Killeagh and Shane Smiddy had other ideas, his 10th minute major was just the tonic they needed, it came directly from a Ryan McCarthy sideline.

A second goal arrived for the east Cork side in the 16th minute when Ryan McCarthy was set up by his brother Dylan.

When Andy Walsh and Dylan McCarthy landed quick-fire points, Killeagh with the wind behind them, took the lead, 2-5 to 2-4.

Game on.

The sides were on level terms five times before half-time, in fact Killeagh’s David Buckley was unlucky not to be able to capitalise on a Blarney mistake and nab a third goal for his side.

They did, however, end the half with a sublime point from midfielder Seán Long to go to the dressing-room 2-11 to 2-10 ahead.

One person in the crowd who was sure to be happy with this scoreline was Rory Motherway, the Killeagh player who was involved in a serious car accident in May.

Blarney started the second half in commendable fashion. Shane Barrett willingly penalised Killeagh’s lack of discipline and there was a couple from Eoghan Kirby.

They outscored Killeagh five points to two to regain the lead.

Then came what looked like a pivotal moment in the 41st minute when Cian Barrett found Pádraig Power and he parted to Denis McSweeney for a third Blarney goal, 3-15 to 2-13.

A minute had barely elapsed when Killeagh replied in emphatic fashion, Colm Leahy raising a green flag and for the second time a major came from a Ryan McCarthy sideline.

The mid Cork side steadied themselves to strike four-in-a-row - two from Pádraig Power, Patrick Crowley and Cathal McCarthy to extend their advantage to six points and eight minutes remaining.

Not over yet.

The McCarthy brothers reduced the deficit to three while Killeagh also hit the woodwork in a frenetic finish.

It wasn’t until the 64th minute the Blarney supporters could take a breath when All-Star nominee Shane Barrett sent over his seventh point - sixth from a placed ball - to guarantee the win.

What it all means now is a mouth-watering semi-final against Bride Rovers. The teams had to replay at this juncture last year when Blarney were successful in their objection to a penalty shoot-out win by the Rovers.

Scorers for Blarney: S Barrett (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), P Power (1-2), D McSweeney and C Barrett (1-1 each), E Kirby (0-4), C McCarthy (0-3), P Crowley (0-2).

Scorers for Killeagh: D McCarthy (0-8, 0-7 frees), R McCarthy (1-2, 0-1 free), Colm Leahy (1-1), S Smiddy (1-0), S Long (0-2), A Walsh, Ciarán Leahy and R Long (0-1 each).

BLARNEY: P Hallissey; A McEvoy, C Power, S Mullane; P Philpott, P Crowley, M Coleman (Capt); O Hegarty, C Hegarty; D McSweeney, S Barrett, E Kirby; C Barrett, P Power, C McCarthy.

Subs: S Crowley for S Mullane (47), S Mulcahy for E Kirby (55), J O’Keeffe for C McCarthy (61).

KILLEAGH: P O’Neill; B Delaney, D Hogan, A Keniry; R Sinclair, D Walsh (J-Capt), A Walsh; S Long (J-Capt), Ciarán Leahy; R McCarthy, R Long, S Smiddy; D Buckley, Colm Leahy, D McCarthy.

Subs: G Leahy for A Keniry (50), A Leahy for D Buckley (55).

Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).

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