St Finbarr's 2-14 Blackrock 1-07
St Finbarr's emerged victorious in Sunday’s Co-Op Superstores Premier senior hurling county final in front of 15,165 supporters at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
A first premier senior county final meeting in 40 years between Blackrock and St Finbarr’s lived up to its pre-match hype despite monsoon weather conditions.
The finalists pedigree was underlined by the fact the Rockies and Barrs entered Sunday’s showdown with a combined total of 58 senior titles.
Blackrock were looking to repeat their 2020 success while their opponents, also contesting next weekend’s premier senior football decider, last lifted the Seán Óg Murphy Cup in 1993.
Two Padraig Buggy points got the Barrs off to a positive start. Midfielder Daniel Meaney opened Blackrock’s account before Ben Cunningham took centre stage. Cunningham landed a free prior to splitting the posts with a cracking effort from wide on the left wing.
0-04 to 0-01 behind, the Rockies needed a spark and Mark O’Keefe provided it with a goal after 11 minutes. The Blackrock forward burst clear and found the bottom corner of the net to bring parity to the scoreline.
Mike O’Halloran edged the Rockies ahead before Ben Cunningham (free) levelled matters for a third time. Cunningham continued to excel by adding a 65’ and another terrific effort from play to make it 0-7 to 1-2.
Blackrock enjoyed a purple patch coming up to half time as Alan Connolly landed a 65’ and another from open play. Brian Hayes responded with a cracking score from a tight angle.
Shane O’Keefe and Ben Cunningham exchanged scores to conclude an evenly-fought first period with the Barrs 0-9 to 1-05 in front.
Deteriorating weather conditions made scoring opportunities scarce throughou the second period. It took a moment of magic from Conor Cahalane created an opening for Brian Hayes to flick the sliotar to the net after 37 minutes.
Ben Cunningham added a 65’ and it was 1-10 to 1-6 after Alan Connolly replied from a free.
An intriguing county final was decided with second Barrs goal after 44 minutes. Conor Cahalane put on the afterburners, raced clear of the Rockies defence and planted the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-10 to 1-6.
The Barrs kicked for home in the closing minutes with Ben Cunningham taking his personal total to 0-9 before wild celebrations at he final whistle. A Barrs hurling and football double is on.
St Finbarr’s: Shane Hurley; Eoin Keane, Jamie Burns, Cian Walsh; Ben O’Connor, Damien Cahalane, Bill Hennessy (captain); Glen O’Connor, Ethan Twomey; Ben Cunningham (0-9, 0-3 frees, 0-2 65’s), Eoghan Finn, Conor Cahalane (1-0); Brian Hayes (1-1), Padraig Buggy (0-2), Jack Cahalane.
Subs: William Buckley for Finn (0-2,), Sam Cunningham for Buggy (59), Darragh Calnan for J Cahalane (61), Ciaran Doolan for G O’Connor (62).
Blackrock: Gavin Connolly; Conor O’Brien, Alan O’Callaghan, Stephen Murphy; Cathal Cormack, John Cashman, Niall Cashman; Daniel Meaney (0-1), Kevin O’Keefe; Mark O’Keefe (1-0), Tadgh Deasy, Michael O’Halloran (0-1); Robbie Cotter, Shane O’Keefe (0-2, captain), Alan Connolly (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 65).
Subs: John O’Sullivan for Cotter (45), Ciaran Cormack for O’Halloran (51), David O’Farrell for O’Keefe (53).
Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).
