Clinical Blackrock relegate Na Piarsaigh and stay in contention for RedFM Hurling League Division 1 final

Na Piarsaigh 0-15 Blackrock 3-18 

A disappointing end to Na Piarsaigh’s Red FM Division 1 Senior hurling league campaign as this defeat to Blackrock doomed them to Division 2 for next season.

Bar the opening 10 minutes were always chasing this game as Blackrock demolished them in the majority of key departments.

Blackrock had many solid performances but the 3-8 contribution from full-forward Fionn Coleman was crucial in this win but it may not be enough to deny Sarsfields or Charleville a place in the decider.

The game was only in its second minute when the game was stopped in what looked a nasty knee injury to Na Piarsaigh’s full-back Gordon Joyce. Joyce recovered, temporarily, and it was the Rockies who drew first blood courtesy of a Coleman point.

The home side settled and three consecutive points in the opening 10 minutes put ahead. The Rockies responded with three Coleman scores.

The hosts fell three behind with Peter Lenihan twice going close to goals for Blackrock.

The Rockies did find the net in the 25th minute when the energetic Coleman broke through the home defence and drilled a low shot to the corner of the net. He grabbed his second goal late in the half as Na Piarsaigh looked in deep trouble at the break when trailing 2-9 to 0-6.

Playing against the wind on the restart Na Piarsaigh needed to increase the tempo but after wasting two shots in front of goal, the Rockies responded with their third green flag just five minutes into the second half. Shane Forde and Ross O’Sullivan did keep the scoreboard ticking over but some of Na Piarsaigh’s defending wasn’t up to the level required as they allowed Coleman saunter through to complete his hat-trick.

Both teams emptied their benches and the Rockies dropped down a few gears coming down the stretch.

Na Piarsaigh were once again reminded that a different mindset will be needed for them to compete in the Senior A Championship and they will need a fully fit squad available in all three group games.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: S Forde 0-5, R O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2 f), P Guest 0-2 f, E Galvin, C Buckley, K Moynihan, C Hannifin 0-1 each.

Blackrock: F Coleman 3-8 (0-5 f), C Cormack, N Cashman, R Sweeney, T Deasy 0-2 each, D O’Farrell, S O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: L O’Donovan; P Murphy, G Joyce, C O’Flynn; K Buckley, C Buckley, K Moynihan; C Hogan, K Forde; E Galvin, C Hannifin Kidney; S Forde, R O’Sullivan, P Guest.

Subs: A Dennehy for G Joyce (inj 12), P O’Rourke for E Kidney (19), L Sheehan for P O’Rourke (inj 37), P Lehane for E Galvin (47).

BLACKROCK: G Connolly; S Murphy, J Cashman, O McAdoo; C Cormack, A O’Callaghan, N Cashman; D O’Farrell, D Meaney; P Lenihan, S O’Keeffe, I O’Keeffe; T Deasy, F Coleman, C Cormack.

Subs: E O’Farrell for C Cormack (46), J Ryan for P Lenihan (46), R Sweeney for F Coleman (49), L O’Donovan for N Cashman (50), S Healy for O McAdoo (51), D Connell for I O’Keeffe (53).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).