Croagh-Kilfinny make it two wins from two in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship against Blackrock

CROAGH-KILFINNY remain unbeaten after two rounds of the Lyons Of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship following a 1-26 to 2-15 victory over Blackrock on an overcast Friday evening in Ballyagran.

A Cian O’Carroll free got the scoreboard ticking before Paudie Leahy replied with a fine score for Blackrock. Croagh Kilfinny’s early pressure paid off as they established a four point lead after eight minutes with scores coming from Seamus O’Carroll, James Lanigan and Seamie Lenihan.

A clutch of frees from Marty Farrell offered some resistance to a Croagh Kilfinny purple patch where their forward unit were moving in scintillating cohesion. The two Seamus’, O’Carroll and Hickey would help themselves to a bunch of nice points to keep the gap at four points after 20 minutes. 

On 26 minutes, Hickey ghosted by two defenders before flicking a pass to James Lanigan who smashed home a vital Croagh Kilfinny goal. Farrell and Jimmy Quilty traded scores with Hickey and Cian O’Carroll to leave the scoreline at halftime 1-14 to 0-10 in favour of Croagh/ Kilfinny.

Quilty and Hickey exchanged points after a cagey opening few minutes to the second half. Points from John Wall and Cian O’Carroll extended the west team’s lead even further after 47 minutes. Desperate for some relief, Paudie Leahy struck the net for Blackrock after 50 minutes to reduced the gap to six points.

Cian O’Carroll settled his side with a few placed balls before substitute Ruairi O’Shaughnessey and Jimmy Quilty replied for Blackrock. Leahy struck for goal again from a free with two minutes on the clock. However, Croagh Kilfinny weren’t deterred in the slightest as they pressed on in added time with scores from O’Carroll and substitute Conor Lenihan.

SCORERS: Croagh-Kilfinny: Cian O’Carroll 0-9 (0-8 frees), Seamus O’Carroll 0-6, James Lanigan 1-2, Seamus Hickey 0-4, Seamie Lenihan 0-2, John Wall, Bryan Flynn, Conor Lenihan 0-1 each. Blackrock: Paudie Leahy 2-3 (1-1 frees) Marty Farrell 0-5 (0-5 frees), Jimmy Quilty 0-3 (0-1 free), Ruairi O’Shaughnessy 0-2, Aidan Gilligan 0-1.

CROAGH-KILFINNY: Dave Lynch, Owen Dee, Aidan O’Shea, Eoin Barry, Tom McMahon, Barry Lenihan, Jack Lenihan, Adam Shanagher, Seamie Lenihan, Seamus Hickey, Cian O’Carroll, James Lanigan, Andrew Meade, John Wall, Seamus O’Carroll. SUBS: Denis Lenihan for Adam Shanagher (35 mins injured), Bryan Flynn for John Wall (53 mins), Conor Lenihan for Barry Lenihan (55 mins), Maurice Lenihan for Seamus O’Carroll (60+1 mins).

BLACKROCK: David Moloney, Nigel Hosford, Richie McCarthy, Shane Lyons, Killian Ahern, Liam Walsh, Ian O’Brien, Jimmy Quilty, Marty Farrell, Ciaran Considine, Paudie Leahy, Sean O’Neill, Callan Ensor, Colm O’Keeffe, Sean Dwyer. SUBS: Ruairi O’Shaughnessy for Callan Ensor (half-time), Aidan Gilligan for Ciaran Considine (half-time), Shane Phillpot for Sean O'Dwyer (53 mins).