Blackrock gain first win in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship with victory over Na Piarsaigh:

By Siadbh Redmond Limerick Leader Sport

BLACKROCK have gained their first victory in the Lyons of Limerick County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship after an impressive 1-20 to 1-11 win over Na Piarsaigh in Bruff this afternoon.

Aidan Fitzgerald’s side were on top throughout the entire game and left down a marker in the opening half with the strong wind aiding their scores. Na Piarsaigh struggled to get into to the game with their first touch and passing not up to the standard of their opponents. This is the city teams second loss of the championship after an opening round defeat to Effin.

It was the returned Jimmy Quilty that opened this afternoon’s scoring for Blackrock after two minutes of play with the strong wind behind them, closely followed by an Evan Sweeney free for the Caherdavin side.

Blackrock edged ahead in the first ten minutes with two frees from Paudie Leahy and Colm O’Keeffe, followed by an effort from Sean O’Neill. The city team were not deterred though with two points coming from corner forward Marcus Hogan to leave the sides level after 10 minutes.

Na Piarsaigh’s defence were caught off guard in the next play as the Blackrock forwards headed for the goal with the entire full-forward line touching the sliothar before eventually Callan Ensor took a swing at the ball landing it into the back of the net to put them 1-4 to 0-4 ahead.

Three more points were slotted over for Blackrock, who looked extremely comfortable at this stage, before Na Piarsaigh got their own chance at a goal as James Finn sprinted up the wing to be in the right place at the right time gifting them a goal and putting Na Piarsaigh right back in the game.

Blackrock ended the half on the stronger foot after the shock of the goal with Colm O’Keeffe slotting over two more frees followed by Jimmy Quilty’s two efforts to leave them 1-11 to 1-7 ahead at half-time despite registering nine wides.

The second-half ebbed and flowed for large periods as Blackrock’s efficiency proved to be the telling factor in the game. Full-forward Richie McCarthy got his name on the score board after 34 minutes quickly followed by a Colm O’Keeffe free and two fabulous scores from Ruairi O’Shaughnessy keeping them well ahead 1-15 to 1-7.

It took until the 41 minute of play for Na Piarsaigh to get their first score of the second-half from a James O’Brien free but from here Blackrock took total control of the game as the city side struggled to keep a foothold.

Blackrock’s Barry O’Shaughnessy effort was well saved by Evan Condon to convert it a point with three more free’s from captain Colm O’Keeffe to almost secure victory.

The scoreline could have had a totally different complexion as Na Piarsaigh’s Cian Brosnan’s shot was expertly saved on the 56 minute mark. Evan Sweeney’s frees were vital for Na Piarsaigh as Blackrock ended the game with a score from sub Barry O’Shaughnessy to leave them with the 1-20 to 1-1 win.

SCORERS BLACKROCK: Colm O’Keeffe 0-8 (0-8 frees), Callan Ensor 1-0, Jimmy Quilty 0-3, Ruairi O’Shaughnessy 0-2, Barry O’Shaughnessy 0-2, Paudie Leahy 0-2, Sean O’Neill 0-2, Richie McCarthy 0-1

NA PIARSAIGH: Evan Sweeney 0-5 (0-5 frees), James Finn 1-0, James O’Brien 0-2, Marcus Hogan 0-2, Jim Beary and Pa O’Neill 0-1 each.

BLACKROCK: Richie Murphy, Adrain Cooke, Daithi Heffernan, Ian O’Brien (C), Ciarian Considine, Jimmy Quilty, Simon Hennessy, Paudie Leahy, Shane Lyons, Sean O’Neill, Colm O’Keeffe, Ruairi O’Shaughnessy, Callan Ensor, Richie McCarthy, David Moloney

SUBS: Fionn Heffernan for D Moloney (36 minutes), Barry O’Shaughnessy for R O’Shaughnessy (42 minutes), James Philpott for S Lyons (57 minutes), Aidan Gilligan for A Cooke (57 minutes)

NA PIARSAIGH: Evan Condon, John O’Keefe, Mark O’Connor, Jim Beary, James Finn, James O’Brien (C), Dean McLaughlin, Pat Gleeson, Alan Dempsey, Kevin Daly, Evan Sweeney, Josh Sheehan, Marcus Hogan, Kevin Ryan, James Daly.

SUBS: Pa O’Neill for M Hogan (9 minutes), Bradley Moran for P Gleeson (29 minutes), Ronan Benson for D McLalughlin (50 minutes)

REFEREE: John O’ Halloran