Blackrock see off Effin to reach Limerick premier intermediate hurling final

A PENALTY goal just as the first half entered injury time proved to be the decisive moment as Blackrock, seeking an immediate return to senior ranks, got the better of neighbours Effin on a 1-17 to 0-15 scoreline in their Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship semi-final on Saturday in Bruff.

Played on a soft surface under a cool breeze and sunshine, play was as tight as would be expected from a South Limerick derby before a closing flurry widened the Rockies' margin of victory just after Effin missed two chances to draw level.

In fact, just holding onto the lead dictated the play more than any other factor and, despite the goal giving them the boost that they needed, Blackrock's victory was also mainly due their ability to strike back any time their opponents were coming within dangerous proximity.

It mightn't have resulted in the prettiest of hurling but it held the interest of the large crowd right to the end.

Coming up to the break, Blackrock made the decisive break when Ruairí O'Shaughnessy was pulled down bearing in on goals and Paudie Leahy buried the penalty to the net before O'Keefe's follow-up free was met by Ruairí O'Connor, leaving Blackrock 1-8 to 0-8 ahead at half-time.

Although Ruairi O'Connor struck his second point right off the restart, play settled back again into a placed ball duel and, with Effin unable to make any further inroads into the gap as Paddy O'Donovan replied in kind to a pair of O'Keeffe frees and the head-to-head continued with the sharpshooters' exchanging another two each.

When Ewan Dillon pointed from play in reply to an O'Keeffe's free, O'Donovan's free brought Effin to within a point, but they then missed a free and a chance from play to draw level.

It was all Blackrock needed and, inspired by two monster strikes from Liam Walsh and Richie McCarthy and they cemented their lead in added time as O'Keeffe and Callan Ensor forced puckout turnovers to add comfort to their margin of victory.

SCORERS: BLACKROCK: Colm O'Keeffe 0-10 (8 frees), Paudie Leahy 1-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Liam Walsh, Richie McCarthy, Callan Ensor 0-1 each; EFFIN: Paddy O'Donovan 0-11 (10 frees), Ewan Dillon, Ruairí O'Connor 0-2 each.