Castlelyons
Take Thrilling Intermediate Final
On the county title front, another one went to East Cork last Sunday
when Castlelyons defeated Killeagh in a thrilling intermediate final in
Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Castelyons eventually emerged victorious by three
points. This achievement is made all the more significant when you
consider that Castelyons were only a Junior B team this decade and also
that they won the Junior A title last year. A truly remarkable feat!!
Other teams to win titles in the last few weeks were Carrigtwohill
against Na Piarsaigh in the Premier Minor final, Erins Owen in the
County A minor final and Kilworth in the County B minor final.
Imokilly
Take Second Title In A Row
Imokilly 1-10 Blackrock 1-5
Date: 1/1/98
Venue: Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Imokilly captured their second ever county senior hurling
championship earlier today when they beat a gallant Blackrock team in
conditions which were in no way suitable to good hurling. From the start
it was clear that it was going to be a low scoring affair, however both
sides did miss chances. The outcome might have been a different one only
for a couple of dubious refereeing decisions which went against the
Rockies in the second half. One in particular which springs to mind is
when Brian OKeeffe was taken out of the game by Bernard Rochford when
the Rockies had a chance of a goal. At this stage Imokilly were only two
points in front and Blackrock were well on top. However the referee
waved play on and Imokilly came down the field where Seanie Farrell
rattled the back of the city end goal. This effectively ended the game
as a contest and from here on there was only going to be one outcome.
Imokilly had the benefit of the wind in the first half and started
the game much the better. The scoring was opened by centre-back Mark
Landers with a pointed free after 33 seconds. Jim Cashman responded a
couple of minutes later with another free to leave the sides level.
Amazingly this was to be Blackrocks only score of the first half and
was to cost them dearly in the end. Mark Landers added further points on
7 and 20 minutes before Derek Barrett pointed from play to leave the
East Cork men three points to the good with half time approaching.
Blackrock had much of the possession at this stage of the game. However
their tactic of repeatedly playing the ball into Brian OKeeffes
corner wasnt playing dividends as the U-21 star wasnt suited to
the type of underfoot- conditions. Timmy McCarthy added a further point
before the break for Imokilly to leave the half-time score at 0-5 to
0-1.
Seanie Farrell got on the score-sheet after just 1 and a half minutes
of the second half to further extend Imokillys advantage. However, it
was at this stage that Blackrock really came into the game. B OKeeffe
got his first point of the game on 7 minutes and this was followed with
a free from Adrian Coughlan on 10 minutes. Eoin Fitzgerald provided a
brief rest-bite for Imokilly with a pointed free on 12 minutes but this
was cancelled out four minutes later by John OFlynn. It was shortly
after this point by OFlynn that the previously mentioned turning
point of the game occurred.
The ball broke to Brian OKeeffe in the left corner about twenty
one yards out. As we went to take the ball around Bernard Rochford he
was felled by the keeper. To the disbelief of everybody the ref. waved
play on and within a couple of seconds Seanie Farrell had scored the
games first major at the other end when there could very well have
been one for Blackrock. This really infuriated the men from the city and
their challenge for a 29th county championship was
effectively thwarted. M Daly added on a point shortly afterwards which
was followed by other minors from Derek Barrett and Brendan Coleman.
This left Imokilly eight points to the good with only five minutes to
go. Blackrock did manage a goal in injury time when Alan Browne
converted a 21 yard free, however it was only a consolation goal.
So Imokilly take their second title in as many years and continue
East Corks amazing run of success. It must be said that it was quite
a disappointing final after a promising championship. One must question
how the final was left so late when Cork were knocked out of the
championship on June 21. However it must be a good sign to see so many
of the senior county squad represented in the final stages of the
competition with Blackrock, Glen Rovers, St. Finbarrs and Imokilly
comprising the last four teams in the championship. Blackrock still
advance to the Munster club championship where they will meet Causeway.
As for Imokilly they can just wallow in their success!!!
Teams And Scorers:
Imokilly
B Rochford (Killeagh); W ORiordan (Castelyons, capt.), S Barrett
(Carrigtwohill), B ODriscoll (Castlemartyr); B Murphy (Bride Rovers),
M Landers (Killeagh, 0-3); B Fitzgerald (Castlelyons); D Barrett (Cobh,
0-2), R Dwane (Aghada); T McCarthy (Castlelyons, 0-1), M Daly (Cobh,
0-1), B Coleman (Youghal, 0-1); S OFarrell (Carrigtwohill, 1-1), J
OConnor (Carrigtwohill), E Fitzgerald (Castlelyons, 0-1). Subs. used:
M Dowling (Youghal) for E Fitzgerald and J Smiddy (Castlemartyr) for J
OConnor.
Blackrock
T Barry; J Browne, N Keane, G Murphy; J Smith, W Sherlock, F Ryan (capt);
C McBride, J Cashman (0-1); J OFlynn (0-1), A Cummins, A Coughlan
(0-1); B OKeeffe (0-1), A Browne (1-1), D Dempsey. Subs. used: D
Coakley for C McBride and B Henneberry for D
Coakley (inj.).