Blackrock finish with a flourish to secure important Premier IHC win
Colm O'Keeffe scored the crucial goal as the Rockies overturned a six-point half time deficit in Knocklong
BLACKROCK finished strong to secure a vital two points in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, beating Dromin-Athlacca 1-18 to 2-11
Colm O'Keeffe scored the crucial goal as the Rockies overturned a six-point half time deficit in Knocklong.
O'Keeffe struck 1-7 - all in the second half- and had former Limerick U20 captain Jimmy Quilty and Sean O’Neill combine for 0-7 from play.
This was the sides’ first championship meeting since the most dramatic county final in recent memory across the grades in 2023 where David Breen hit a last-gasp winner for Dromin-Athlacca despite three late Blackrock goals.
Jack Fitzgibbon and Breen scored first half goals as the men in blue had a 2-7 to 0-7 interval advantage.
Limerick star David Reidy had five first half points but it was the green flags that the James Kennedy-coached side in control.
Breen nearly had another goal in the first minute of the second half - but Dave Moloney made a wonderful save to tip the ball over the bar.
The Kilfinane-Ardpatrick men responded with six in a row - two from Quilty and four O’Keeffe placed balls.
However, frees from Reidy and Cian Scully edged Dromin-Athlacca further ahead as they looked poised to hold on for the win.
However, with six minutes to play, O’Keeffe collected a pass from Quilty and finished the ball into the net to level the game.
From here, the Rockies finished impressively.
Sean O’Neill struck two on the trot from open play before a pair of frees from O’Keeffe saw move within a victory of back-to-back county semi-finals.
A late surge 12 months ago saw Blackrock sneak into the semi-final on six points. Big wins over Glenroe and South Liberties earned them a semi-final place.
Another group-stage finish with a flourish will see history repeat itself.
SCORERS - BLACKROCK: Colm O'Keeffe 1-7 (6f, 1 ‘65); Sean O'Neill 0-4; Jimmy Quilty 0-3; Niall Ryan, Marty Farrell, Paudie Leahy and Shane Lyons 0-1 each; DROMIN-ATHLACCA: David Reidy 0-7 (5f); Jack Fitzgibbon 1-2 (1f); David Breen 1-1; Cian Scully 0-1 (1f).
BLACKROCK: Dave Moloney, Jack Moloney, Killian Ahearne, Ian O'Brien; Niall Ryan, Richie McCarthy, Marty Farrell; Jimmy Quilty, Callan Ensor; Fionn Heffernan, Colm O’Keeffe, Sean O’Neill; Shane Lyons, Paudie Leahy, Sean Flanagan; Subs: Conor Gilligan for Heffernan (h-t); Shane Philpot for Lyons (56 mins); Aidan Gilligan for Leahy (60 mins).
DROMIN-ATHLACCA: Robbie Breen; Shane Scully, William Dore, Ben Gubbins; Patrick O’Donoghue, Micheal Reidy, Shane Fitzgibbon; Cian Scully, David Reidy; Daniel Scully, David Griffin, Michael Quiad; Jack Fitzgibbon, David Breen, Jack O’Connnor; Subs: David Mullins for O’Connor (51 mins); John O’Keeffe for Quiad (56 mins).
Referee: Jonathon Hayes (St Senan’s).