Rockies back on track with Limerick Premier IHC win over Glenroe

BLACKROCK got back to winning ways in the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship with a 1-18 to 1-14 victory over Glenroe at a sun-drenched Knocklong on Friday evening.

Shane Lyons’ goal at the beginning of the second half proved crucial to the win for Niall Moloney’s charges in a game that was tempestuous throughout.

The Rockies’ chances of making the semi-finals got a shot in the arm as a result of the victory but a second loss from their two games puts Glenroe in serious danger of a relegation battle.

The win was by no means straightforward as every time they looked like opening up a match-winning lead, their opponents stormed back at them with an intensity that denied them the space to turn possession into scores.

Having lost their opener and then having their next match postponed, this was a chance for Glenroe to reignite their campaign but they struggled to overcome the ball-winning dominance of Jimmy Quilty and Callan Ensor in the Blackrock midfield.

Colm O'Keeffe's and Darren Frewen traded blows early doors. O’Keeffe added a second moments later but a cracking Darren Frewen strike from the left wing restored parity.

The same man then had the ball in the back of the net with a deft overhead flick nestling in the corner after a dropping free.

The advantage held as O'Keeffe's free, brought in for dissent, was answered by Frewen again collecting the puckout to restore the advantage of three.

Blackrock were beginning to gain the upper hand in the middle and opened up the space for strikes from Quilty, Seán Flanagan and Ensor bringing the sides level going past the quarter mark.

However, they failed to drive on as Liam Dennehy's strike was answered with O'Keeffe's equalising free. Blackrock gained the upper hand when Seán O'Neill and Conor Gilligan put them ahead for the first time since the opening minutes.

Again, Glenroe found a response and forced themselves back level on the back of a Frewen free and Kyle McCarthy's strike from the right flank.

The Rockies forced themselves back into the driving seat in injury time as a pair of O'Keefe frees left them with an advantage of 0-12 to 1-7 at the break.

Blackrock continued where they left off when the second half began with O’Keeffe making it a three-point lead from a placed ball. He then turned creator with a bullet pass for Lyons to fire in their goal.

Glenroe rediscovered their composure and points from Brian O'Connell, a Darren Frewen free and Adam Frewen had them back to within two going into the final quarter.

Callan Ensor settled the nerves when he burst up the centre to split the posts. Back in the groove, they struck three times inside a minute through O'Keeffe's '65', Paudie Leahy immediately after coming on as a sub and Seán Flanagan.

Darren Frewen then shot back after collecting a puck-out and the gap was back to seven after O'Keeffe's free with five regulation minutes to go.

Going into added time, the exchanges heated up again but it was Blackrock that held their nerve and to the victory.

SCORERS - BLACKROCK: Colm O'Keeffe 0-8 (5f, 1 '65), Shane Lyons 1-0, Callan Ensor, Seán Flanagan 0-2 each, Jimmy Quilty, Conor Gilligan, Fionn Heffernan, Seán O'Neill, David Moloney (1f) and Paudie Leahy 0-1 each; GLENROE: Darren Frewen 1-9 (4f, 1 ‘65), Liam Dennehy, Kyle McCarthy, Cathal Dennehy, Brian O'Connell and Adam Frewen 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: David Moloney; Jack Moloney, Richie McCarthy, Ian O'Brien; Ciarán Considine, Killian Ahern, Marty Farrell; Jimmy Quilty, Callan Ensor; Conor Gilligan, Colm O'Keeffe, Seán Flanagan; Shane Lyons, Fionn Heffernan, Sean O'Neill; Subs: Niall Ryan for Heffernan (45 mins), Paudie Leahy for Lyons (50 mins), Aidan Gilligan for Considine (57 mins), Shane Philpot for Flanagan (62 mins).

GLENROE: David McCarthy; Oisín Browne, Pa Holian, Darren Carroll; Kyle McCarthy, Stephen Walsh, Eoghan Fitzgerald; Daniel Murphy, Seán O'Donnell; Zach McCarthy,, Adam Frewen, Liam Dennehy; Darren Frewen, Cathal Dennehy, Daithí Dennehy; Subs: Brian O'Connell for O'Donnell (h-t), Aaron Buckley for Z McCarthy (h-t, inj), Ciarán Kelly for Carroll (48 mins).

Referee: John O'Halloran (Bruree).