Kilfinane junior hurlers played Templeglantine in the county junior B hurling league final recently at Kevin Long Memorial Park Feenagh, where they lost out by the narrowest of margins on a scorline of Templeglantine 0-13, Blackrock 1-9.

This was a very well contested game that saw Blackrock, aided by the breeze in the opening half, lead at the interval by 1-05 to 0-06. Templeglantine were the early pacesetters and registered three points (two from frees) before James O’Doherty opened the Blackrock scoring with a pointed free after eleven minutes of play. Blackrock took the lead with a well taken goal from Anthony Palmer after some fine play from Pa Cleary with a well delivered pass. Eddie O’Keeffe added a point to increase the lead to two points and Blackrock were unlucky not to add a second goal with a Pa Cleary shot deflected for a ‘65 which Mike Roche pointed.

Templeglantine scored three unanswered points to level the scores but Blackrock finished the opening half with two points from James O’Doherty and Vincent Herbert to give their side a two point lead at the interval.

The second half commenced with both sides exchanging points from frees, James O’Doherty being the Blackrock scorer. Two further points from James O’Doherty (one from a free), put Blackrock four points in front but Templeglantine hit back and scored five points, two from frees, to go into a one point lead after twenty six minutes. Minutes later Mike Roche, with a well taken free, had the sides level but with four minutes of injury time on the clock, Templeglantine took the lead with a point from play. Blackrock responded and won a late free which sailed wide of the upright seconds before the referee sounded the full-time whistle.

Team and scorers: James McGrath, Kevin Hosford, TG Ryan, Eamon Coughlan, Josh Slattery, Mike Roche (0-2 1f, 1 65), Vincent Herbert (capt) (0-1), David Healy, Don Flaherty, James O Doherty, (0-5, 0-3 f), Kenneth Douglas, Eddie O Keeffe (0-1), Anthony Palmer (1-0), Pa Cleary, James Heffernan. Subs Adrian Cooke for J Slattery, Paddy Hennessy for D Healy, Brian Coughlan for K Hosford (injured) and Ger Quane for J O Doherty.

Blackrock will be in championship action on this Saturday evening, 13 July when they play Garryspillane in the opening round of the South championship in Hospital with a 6.30pm throw-in.

Minors Take Title

Ballyhoura Gaels captured the South minor 13-a-side hurling competition title at Knocklong on Thursday evening last 4 July when they defeated Bruree in the final by 5-12 to 2-06.

TEAM: Adrian O’Sullivan, Sean O’Sullivan, Josh Watson, Seamus Ryan, Adrian Cooke, Ed Valatka, Paudie Lawlor, Ben Soundy, Kevin O’Farrell, Shane Lyons, Jo Jo Brazill, Conor O’Dwyer, Donnacha Leahy. Subs used : Sean Lyons, Tom O’Dwyer, Martin Farrell.

Meanwhile, Sean Og Hanleys are due to play Cnoc Gaels in the South minor hurling championship on Tuesday next, 16 July in Knocklong at 7.30pm.