Match Report on County Semi Final.. - 2023-10-01 18:19:00
Bride Rovers hold their nerve to see off Blarney after penalty shoot-out..
Report from Irish Examier
After so many twists and turns, it finished 1-17 to 0-20 in regulation, and 1-23 to 0-26 after extra-time.
Bride Rovers and Newcestown will contest the Co-Op Superstores Cork SAHC final, after an enthralling semi-final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening that required extra-time and penalties before Bride Rovers booked their place in the decider. After so many twists and turns, it finished 1-17 to 0-20 in regulation, and 1-23 to 0-26 after extra-time.
In a dramatic penalty shoot-out, three saves by Cian Hogan and three scored by Cillian Tobin, William Finnegan and Adam Walsh sent the top seeds from Rathcormac through.Injury robbed Blarney of Denis McSweeney - their U20 All-Ireland medallist - and Alan McEvoy, they were replaced by Eoghan Kirby and county star Mark Coleman who lined out in attack and contributed 10 points. Bride Rovers, meanwhile, were minus the suspended Jason Mannix.
With the scene set, and with the wind at their backs, Padraig Power put Blarney on the board in the first minute. But in the space of two minutes, a pair of points from Bride Rovers wing-back Kieran Kearney and Brian Roche was the reply.
They extended their advantage 0-4 to 0-2, before the tit-for-tat nature continued, all square again in the 10th minute through Eoghan Kirby and a splendid sideline cut from Mark Coleman.
Adam Walsh pointed some nice frees for Bride Rovers, and they enjoyed an excellent five minute spell when they outhit Blarney four points to one, the gap now 0-8 to 0-5 with 10 minutes to go to half-time. A couple of minutes after Mark Colman struck his third point, Bride Rovers threatened on goal - the only opportunity in the half - and while Ronan O’Connell tried to place his shot into the far corner, the sliotar went across the goal and wide.
Glad of the let-off, Blarney saw out the half with a trio of points - two from free-taker Shane Barrett - to draw level, even if they were guilty of being wasteful. Conleith Ryan was on hand to push Bride Rovers narrowly ahead heading for the break, 0-10 to 0-9, after a half that saw the teams level on four occasions.
The second-half sparked into life for Bride Rovers. Gaining an edge around the middle third especially through Brian Roche, a superb three-man move ended with Adam Walsh having a shot at goal but Conor Murphy saved at point blank, only for Ronan O’Connell to rattle the net and make amends for earlier.
Mark Coleman continued to show his class as Blarney stuck to the task, yet they trailed by five points in the 40th minute, 1-12 to 0-10. Patrick O’Flynn and Eoin Roche crucially combined to deny Mark Coleman who was goal-ward bound. Mark Coleman and Shane Barrett frees, and one each from play by Padraig Power and Shane Mulcahy showed Blarney’s intent on the three-quarter mark, the deficit reduced to one. Over the next five minutes, the game ebbed and flowed, the Rathcormac club remaining in the ascendancy by the minimum, 1-14 to 0-16. The match was in the melting pot when Padraig Power pointed following an amazing run through the centre, and when Shane Barrett landed a free Blarney were back in the lead. Twice Bride Rovers went into the ascendancy before Blarney substitute Cian Dunlea equalised in the third minute of stoppage, 1-17 to 0-20.
Tied four times again, after a hectic second-half. In extra-time, Bride Rovers resumed with the wind, to take the lead courtesy of Josh Ahern. Blarney outscored them three to one, Mark Coleman’s close-in free pushing them 0-23 to 1-19 in front after the first period of extra-time.
It was becoming impossible to separate these two great competitors, Brian Roche levelled in the second period of extra-time. Mark Coleman’s eighth point achieving parity once more, followed by another for the lead. Adam Walsh’s 10th point left it 1-23 to 0-26. The penalty shoot-out came next.
Scorers for Bride Rovers: A Walsh (0-10, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65), R O’Connell (1-3), B Roche (0-3), C Ryan (0-2), K Kearney, W Finnegan, S O’Connor, J Ahern, D Dooley, (0-1 each).
Scorers for Blarney: M Coleman (0-10, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), S Barrett (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), P Power (0-3), E Kirby, C Dunlea, C McCarthy, K Costello, C Hegarty and S Mulcahy (0-1 each).
BRIDE ROVERS: C Hogan; C Hazelwood, P O’Flynn, D Cashman; K Kearney, E Roche (Capt), S O’Connor; B Roche, C Tobin; C Ryan, R O’Connell, A Walsh; W Finnegan, D Dooley, J Ahern.
Subs: L Roche for D Dooley (52), T O’Sullivan for C Hazelwood (56), D Barry for C Ryan (11 ET), C Barry for D Barry (23 ET).
BLARNEY: C Murphy; S Crowley, P O’Leary, D Murphy; C Power (Capt), P Crowley, P Philpott; O Hegarty, C Hegarty; S Mulcahy, P Power, S Barrett; E Kirby, M Coleman, C Barrett.
Subs: C Dunlea for E Kirby (38), C McCarthy for C Barrett (56), K Costello for Power (60 inj), J O’Keeffe for C Power (63), M O’Leary for S Mulcahy (1 ET), P Power for S Crowley (11 ET), W Crowley for P Power (20 ET inj).
Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).
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