Extra Time Heartbreak for Gallant Blackrock Side

Recently crowned Premier Intermediate Hurling Champions Blackrock exited the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship after a nail biting game with Fr. O’Neills.

The game went to extra-time with the Cork champions winning out on a 2-19 to 1-20 scoreline, after Blackrock had forced an extra 20 minutes with a stoppage time penalty. 

That Gavin O’Loughlin penalty levelled the game at 1-15 to 2-12 before packed Michael Fox Memorial Park in Kilfinane.

The Rockies led 0-3 to no score after 6 minutes, with Dylan Dawson and Ruairi O’Shaughnessy on target. Billy Dunne tied the game with a green flag for Fr O’Neills, while the impressive Deccie Dalton had earlier hit the crossbar with a third minute free. 

The score didn’t unsettle Jimmy Quilty’s side and they were ahead again on 21 minutes with Dawson firing over. But, with half-time approaching, the Cork outfit found a second major, as Dalton buried the ball beyond Richard Murphy. 

The half-time score appeared harsh on the Kilfinane-Ardpatrick side, who’d expended a lot of energy, but found themselves 2-6 to 0-9 behind.

Fr O’Neills, who formed part of the Imokilly divisional side who won the Cork Senior Hurling Championship in October, were limited to just one point from play in a rip-roaring second period. O’Shaughnessy, Palmer and Paudie Leahy were all on target for the hosts, with Deccie Dalton placed balls in reply at the opposite end.

Eventually, midfielder David Moloney levelled the game on the 54^th minute – 0-15 to 2-9, but his side were unable to find a lead. 

Instead Liam O’Driscoll, Dalton (from play and a ‘65’) pulled their side three clear. But their was another twist. Palmer was fouled and upstepped O’Loughlin to powerfully finish to the net to force extra-time. 

The first three white flags of extra-time fell to the side, in Cork jerseys, before O’Loughlin notched his sides only effort of the first half. Try as they might, Quilty’s side were unable to pull level to force penalties, with Paudie Leahy (2) and Marty Farrell (free) reducing the margin to one with time up.

But the final say went to Fr O’Neills Joe Millerick, who sealed his sides passage to a Munster semi-final meeting with Broadford, of Clare.