PREMIER INTERMEDIATE HURLING
Half time in Ballyagran:
Croagh Kilfinny 1-14 Blackrock 0-10
The westerners well in control here and will have the wind in second half.
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Mungret should be 20 up on NCW.
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Pat Mulcahy has brought Corkness to town.
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Full time in Ballyagran:
Croagh Kilfinny 1-26 Blackrock 2-15
Report to followâŚ.
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Mungret draw after being up by 50 points at half time.
The wind did play a factor but Mungret just fell asleep a little before half time didnât wake up till the 50th minute
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Carkness.
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Go out and hurl the ball and no more about it
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NCW blessed a game of hurling never broke out.
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Premier Intermediate Hurling Round 2
CROAGH KILFINNY 1-26 BLACKROCK 2-15
On a cool, breezy and dry evening in Ballyagran, west and south collided as divisional new boys Croagh Kilfinny took on 2023 runners up Blackrock. Both teams came into this game on the back of comfortable victories over Effin and Bruff respectively.
In spite of playing against a light to moderate breeze, Croagh Kilfinny started the stronger; early scores from Seamie Lenihan, Seamus OâCarroll and Cian OâCarroll helped them to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after six minutes of play. Croagh continued to have the bit between their teeth in the early period, highlighted by a couple of fabulous Seamus OâCarroll points from near the stand side sideline. A point from play by Jimmy Quilty along with a series of Marty Farrell frees were keeping the Rockies in the game but they were finding scores from open play hard to come by in general. Croaghâs defence was on top, well marshalled by Barry Lenihan and Jack Lenihan. Adam Shanagher and Seamie Lenihan were winning the midfield battle despite the best efforts of Jimmy Quilty and Marty Farrell.
Allied to the continual threat of ex Limerick footballer Seamus OâCarroll in the inside corner, the constant rotation of Croaghâs half forward line was causing Blackrock problems, with James Lanigan helping himself to 0-2 and Cian OâCarroll finding pockets of space to pick out a pass. But none were more prominent than the evergreen Seamus Hickey, who was involved in everything during the first half hour. Whether it was assists for scores or knocking over points himself (0-2), Hickey was rolling back the years with his running, passing and scoring.
A well taken point from distance from Blackrock centre forward Paudie Leahy left the score at 0-14 to 0-10 on 26 minutes, in favour of Croagh-Kilfinny. Barely a minute later, James Lanigan rattled the net from 10 yards after good work from Cian OâCarroll and Seamus Hickey in the buildup. This sent the teams to the dressing rooms at half time with Croagh-Kilfinny having a commanding 1-14 to 0-10 lead.
Now playing with the elements, Seamus Hickey opened the second half scoring for Croagh in the 34th minute after a wayward Blackrock pass. Jimmy Quilty responded from play three minutes later. Points from John Wall, Seamus Hickey and Cian OâCarroll saw Croagh lead 1-18 to 0-11 after 45 minutes. The game was starting to slip away from the Rockies. However, a brilliant point under pressure by sub Aidan Gilligan, allied to a Paudie Leahy bullet of a goal following a good inside pass by Sean OâNeill, came as a much needed boost to the Ballyhoura men.
With Croagh Kilfinnyâs lead soon down to five points (1-18 to 1-13), Blackrock poured forward and a smart save from Croagh keeper Dave Lynch was needed to stop a Jimmy Quilty bullet. Croagh responed well to the goal, scoring three unanswered points from Seamus Hickey, Seamus OâCarroll and sub Brian Flynn. A second Paudie Leahy goal from a daisy-cutter free left it at 1-21 to 2-13 with six minutes of normal time remaining.
Croagh sub Conor Lenihan got in on the scoring act, and, added to points from Seamus OâCarroll and Cian OâCarroll (3f), Croagh saw out the game comfortably enough, in spite of the Rockies battling to the end, with points from subs Barry and Ruari OâShaughnessy coming too late. Croagh even had time to threaten a second goal at the other end when a Seamus Hickey rasper smashed off the post following another brilliant run by ex-county star. A monster Cian OâCarroll free from his own 45â line rounded out the scoring. When Brureeâs Michael Sexton blew the whistle for full time, the westerners had recorded a comfortable eight point victory, a margin that certainly did not flatter them.
The result of this game was never really in doubt from a far distance out. Croagh Kilfinny showed a hunger and desire that Blackrock just couldnât live with. Added to this was their ability to find their men in space with five of their six starting forwards scoring from play â contrast this with only two of Blackrockâs starting six forwards doing the same. Croaghâs first touch was that little bit better and they used the ball more intelligently. They hit some fine long range points from play. Seamus Hickey, Seamie OâCarroll, Cian OâCarroll, James Lanigan, Adam Shanagher and Seamie Lenihan were prominent throughout. Their backs were solid, with the likes of Tom McMahon and Jack Lenihan giving some fine deliveries to their forward line. They wonât be happy with the second Blackrock goal conceded from the 21 free, which probably belongs in the âsoftâ category. Nor will they be happy with Adam Shanagher or Seamus OâCarroll both going off injured, the former with what looked to be a nasty arm injury.
The Rockies will be disappointed with the result, if not the effort, they chipped away but ultimately didnât create enough scoring chances during the 64 minutes of action (24 chances created). Their defence was putting out fires from start to finish. Sean OâNeill impressed this writer the most, and although he didnât score, he was involved in everything good that Blackrock did, giving assists, most significantly for his teamâs first goal. Other Blackrock players that showed well were Richie McCarthy, Jimmy Quilty, Marty Farrell and Paudie Leahy.
Croagh Kilfinny have stepped up a notch in their intensity from last year, the passing is sharper, they are creating more scoring chances (39 created tonight) and seem to be finishing games very strongly. Most importantly, when Croagh do concede a goal, they are responding almost immediately with two or three points of their own. Blackrock looked impressive in their victory over Bruff and still have much to play for. They didnât help themselves tonight by running the ball into trouble and being turned over much of the time, such was the hunger of the Croagh men. Thereâs a lot to be said for taking a more direct approach, especially against a mobile side like they met tonight.
SCORERS FOR CROAGH-KILFINNY: Cian OâCarrol 0-9 (0-7f), Seamus OâCarroll 0-6, James Lanigan 1-2, Seamus Hickey 0-4, Seamie Lenihan 0-2, John Wall 0-1, Brian Flynn 0-1, Conor Lenihan 0-1.
SCORERS FOR BLACKROCK: Paudie Leahy 2-3 (1-3f), Marty Farrell 0-5 (0-5f), Jimmy Quilty 0-3 (0-1f), Colm OâKeeffe 0-1, Aidan Gilligan 0-1, Barry OâShaughnessy 0-1, Ruairi OâShaughnessy 0-1
STAR MAN: Seamus Hickey (Croagh Kilfinny). Any other day a player that scores 0-6 from play and wins so much 50/50 duels would be getting man of the match, so Seamus OâCarroll can consider himself most unlucky. But this award simply had to go to Seamus Hickey. He was everywhere, and shows no signs of slowing down at 38 years of age. Used the ball well throughout, won countless turnovers, made several bursts through the Blackrock defence and claimed 0-4 for himself.
WIDE COUNT: Croagh Kilfinny 12, Blackrock 7.
REF WATCH: (8/10) Michael Sextonâs performance was good. He got most calls right, left a few throw balls behind him but was consistent for both sides. Most importantly let it flow but didnât let either side take the proverbial.
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Seamus hickey still going strong. Fair play
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Iâm struggling to remember a better game from him in the Croagh colours. He was awesome. The ball was like a magnet to him. He had a few âhow did he do thatâ moments.
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Excellent report. I was very impressed with Croagh Kilfinny tonight. They looked well coached and will take a lot of beating in this division. As you said Hickey was outstanding. Seamus OâCarroll was also excellent. The tactic of isolating him inside in the full forward line worked well and he took some great scores. I was impressed with 12 James Lanigan as well.Blackrock just seemed that bit slower on the ball tonight. Theyâll need to get more out of Jimmy Quilty I feel. He was moved around too much tonight. Might be better if they pick him in a spot and leave him there
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I thought Quilty came into it more in the second half. They seemed to move him further up the field, he wasnât getting much change from Shanager/Lenihan at midfield. He was unlucky not to score a goal, and won a few frees when running at the Croagh defence. But yes, Iâd probably have expected a little more from a lad that spent a few years in Limerick setup.
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Great report, thanks.
Weâre seeing a fair bit of nonchalance at club level from lads whoâve been inside with the county setup for a year or two and have been let go, or lads still inside but not breaking in⌠Robbie Hanley, Jimmy Quilty, La Touche, Fergal OâConnor, Brian OâGrady, Ronan Lynch⌠Lads youâd hope would consistently tear it up at this level to get back inâŚ
Perhaps the reason they donât stand out is aligned with the reasons they werenât kept inside or arenât breaking in. Iâd love to believe the club scene is bursting with lads on the edge of real impact inside⌠prospects, including lads whoâve been looked at already and went away and worked on their game, but it isnât.
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This is a real fear in the coming years. We will need to stick with the old guard to remain competitive over coming 2/3 years.
Weâve just had 3 poor years at minor and u20, thereâs not too many players that youâd point at with conviction and say they will make good senior players.
Clare Tipp and Cork have some very good prospects to add in coming years.
we will have to pay the piper.
What club is Brian O Grady he was a serious Fitzgibbon hurler for UL. How do the likes of Cathal O Neill and Flanagan perform in the lower grades for their sides? I imagine O Neill must be getting seven or eight from play every night?
Was always surprised O Grady and Quilty got cut given their age profile and underage careers.
We really need the likes of an Ethan Hurley or Scully to step up and take one of the half back positions - but Iâm not sure either are at that level.
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Ruling players out at 16 and 18/19.
Youre some ham.
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O Grady is kilteely/dromkeen. Small junior club, heâs been plagued with injuries.
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You would swear the 20s and minors were getting annihilated in every game they have played the last couple of years, clueless.
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