Blackrock blitz Barrs to reach City Division U21 A Hurling final

The Rockies march now into a final with Glen Rovers, and march as rightful winners after such a commanding finish.

SOLID AS A ROCKIE: Alex Geary gets in a shot on goal despite the attending of Thomas Egan. Pic: Dan Linehan

Blackrock 1-24 St Finbarr’s 0-17

If the scoreline paints a picture of comfort, the canvas underneath told something far more strained. For 52 minutes at Church Road on a cold southside night, St Finbarr’s had Blackrock close enough to touch, the gap just two.

Then, the Rockies bolted – one goal, seven without reply, and a semi-final that had been tight was suddenly tilted out of sight.

They march now into a Pharmacare City Division U21 A Hurling Championship final with Douglas or Glen Rovers, and march as rightful winners after such a commanding finish.

It was Eoin Coughlan who steadied the pulse first, landing a free to nudge the Rockies three clear after 53 minutes.

Almost instantly, sub Adam O’Callaghan sent Coughlan through for a clever finish moments later, 1-18 to 0-15. The Barrs did flicker once more, but Blackrock had already tightened the bolts. Ollie McAdoo’s late switch onto Buckley stemmed the Togher talisman’s influence.

Coughlan and Ryan Sweeney led the final wave, minors such as Rowan Moran surfing it, and the scoreboard went beyond reach.

Kyle Leahy, Blackrock breaking between St Finbarr's Jack Brady and James Kennefick. Pic: Dan Linehan

That finish masked the graft that preceded it. Jamie Ryan and Sean Healy were superb in defence, completely nullifying Buckley and John Wigginton-Barrett. The Barrs’ chief marksmen found little oxygen – just three from play for Buckley, no shot at all for Wigginton-Barrett.

Blackrock’s best hurling came in pulses in the first half, and by the 17-minute mark, a Coughlan-driven burst had daylight at 0-9 to 0-4.

Evan Malone teed up Buckley’s first from play, yet three more Rockies scores, two again from the unerring Coughlan, had it 0-12 to 0-6 as half-time neared.

Minor Michael Quill – magnificent at wing-back all night – helped stretch the Rockies’ lead again on the restart with his second point from play, 0-14 to 0-8.

The Barrs came hunting in the third quarter, O’Shea, Conor McCarthy and Buckley reducing the margin to four. Sweeney, split the posts on 44 minutes with one of many excellent scores to steady the home camp again, 0-15 to 0-11.

When Rickey Barrett and Buckley strung a spell of two together for the blue and gold in the 52nd minute, the gap was at two, but the Rockies answered, and kicked the door shut.

Scorers for Blackrock: E Coughlan 1-11 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), R Sweeney, F O’Keeffe 0-4 each, M Quill 0-2, K Leahy, R Moran, S O’Shaughnessy 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: W Buckley 0-10 (0-7 f), L O’Shea 0-3, C McCarthy 0-2, J Murray, R Barrett 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: D Murphy; D Browne, C Coakley, J Ryan; M Quill, S Healy, B Lynch; O McAdoo, L O’Sullivan; S O’Shaughnessy, R Sweeney, K Leahy; F O’Keeffe, E Coughlan, A Geary.

Subs: R O’Riordan for Lynch (37), A O’Callaghan for Leahy (45), R Moran for O’Shaughnessy (51).

ST FINBARR’S: E Kelleher; J Kennefick, S Kennedy, C Buckley; J Brady, T Egan, T Howe; C McCarthy, J Murray; R Barrett, W Buckley, E Malone; L O’Shea, J Wigginton-Barrett, C Hegarty.

Subs: S Doolan for Buckley (28-HT temp), Doolan for Hegarty (36).

Referee: P Lyons (Bishopstown).