Strong start proves crucial as Blarney secure direct passage to last four with win over Watergrasshill

Blarney’s Eoghan Kirby looks to take a shot at goal as Watergrasshill’s Dylan Roche seeks to defend. Pic: Noel Sweeney

SAHC: Blarney 0-22 Watergrasshill 1-14 

Blarney secured a direct passage to the last four of the Co‑Op SuperStores SAHC after a strong start proved crucial in their five‑point victory over Watergrasshill at Grenagh on Saturday evening.

With qualification already rubber‑stamped from Group 1, both sides arrived with the safety net in place, but the next objective was clear: claim that semi‑final spot. Any notion of a dead rubber evaporated quickly, with plenty of bite on show from the opening minutes.

Blarney had beaten the Hill by 21 points when they met last year, but this contest was far tighter — a game that should stand to both as they move forward. The Muskerry side led by three at the short whistle and kept their opponents at arm’s length throughout the second half.

Blarney now have a month off before the semi‑finals, while Watergrasshill face Ballinhassig at the quarter‑final juncture.

The Hill enjoyed a strong wind advantage in the first half, played in wet conditions with light rain throughout. The Imokilly men led 0‑4 to 0‑2 after six minutes, with Daire O’Leary’s long‑range effort the pick of the scores. Eoghan Kirby had a goal chance for Blarney in that spell but couldn’t find the net.

Blarney manager Paul O’Leary. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Four Shane Barrett points — three frees — swung Blarney into a two‑point lead, but Watergrasshill replied sharply with white flags from Brendan Lehane, Dylan Roche and Seán Desmond. Blarney pushed ahead again to lead 0‑9 to 0‑7 on 27 minutes.

A Shane O’Regan free cut the gap to the minimum, but three quick‑fire Blarney points from Cathal Hegarty, Stephen Mullane and Declan Hanlon opened a four‑point buffer. Desmond’s response left Watergrasshill 0‑12 to 0‑9 behind at half‑time. His effort could easily have been a goal after Daire O’Leary set him up.

Blarney had the wind in the second half and controlled the early stages, hitting three of the first four points, with Patrick Crowley very effective in midfield. O’Regan added another placed ball for the Hill, and there was a sense they needed a goal to truly trouble their opposition. It arrived on 43 minutes when Desmond drilled to the net, making it 0‑15 to 1‑11.

Blarney’s response was immediate, three points on the trot, two Shane Barrett frees and a Kirby effort. The sides traded scores before another O’Regan free left Watergrasshill just three behind with nine minutes remaining, 0‑19 to 1‑13.

But Blarney never looked in bother, landing three of the last four points to seal their semi‑final berth.

Scorers for Blarney: S Barrett 0-11 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), M Coleman 0-4 (0-2 65, 0-1 f), C Hegarty, E Kirby 0-2 each, S Mullane, D McSweeney, D Hanlon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Watergrasshill: S O’Regan 0-6 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), S Desmond 1-2, A Murphy 0-3, D Roche, D O’Leary, B Lehane 0-1 each.

BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, C Power, S Mullane; O Hegarty, M Coleman, A McEvoy; D McSweeney, P Crowley; D Hanlon, S Barrett, C Hegarty; E Kirby, P Power, C Barrett.

Subs: S Mulcahy for S Crowley (17, inj), J Murphy for D Hanlon (54).

WATERGRASSHILL: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, D Roche; R Loftus, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; C Cronin, A Spriggs; P Cronin, B Lehane, S O’Regan; A Murphy, S Desmond, A Cronin.

Subs: R Murray for C Cronin, L Foley for P Cronin (both 37), C O’Leary for A Cronin (48), P O’Leary for A Spriggs (61).

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).