Barryroe 2-18

St Finbarr's 0-16

JJ HURLEY REPORTS

BARRYROE turned on the afterburners in the final ten minutes of their encounter with St Finbarr's to claim an important win in the Co-Op Superstores Premier A Hurling Championship at Belgooly.

For 50 minutes, the game resembled a long-distance race, with both sides attempting to break away only for the other to reel them back in.

However, as they had threatened on several occasions, the Carbery side had Olan O'Donovan to thank for breaking the deadlock with a well-taken goal in the 52nd minute.

It was followed by two additional points, including a massive long-range free from Michael Whelton, and the game was effectively over after 58 minutes when Luke Murphy crashed a breaking ball from a free to the city side's net.

A delighted Barryroe manager Kevin McCarthy was full of praise for his charges, who will now face their near neighbours Agrideen Rangers in their next outing.

'It was tit for tat, but the last ten minutes they really put it in and the two goals made all the difference,' McCarthy said.

'Obviously, we are delighted, as it is great to get over the first round, as it gives the team great confidence and you know where the fellas are at.'

An entertaining contest, Jack Murphy opened the scoring in the first minute, but three St Finbarr's points, including a beauty from David Murray, had the Carbery side in arrears by two on six minutes.

Barryroe's Tomas Ó Buachalla slips past St Finbarr's Adam Buckley and Eoin Keane. (Photo: Martin Walsh)

With both sides guilty of some poor shooting, Ryan O'Donovan stepped up and hit a hat-trick of points to nudge his side in front, the last score coming from a sublime pass from the consistent Adam McSweeney.

As a familiar pattern began to emerge, it was the Togher side that had retaken the lead on 18 minutes, as Sam Cunningham and Cathal Crowley got their names on the scoresheet.

Swapping scores, the sides were tied at 0-6 apiece after 23 minutes, thanks to the stick work of Jack Murphy.

A point from O'Donovan with four minutes to the break had the Carbery men with their noses in front, but they were pegged back by two Barr's scores, including a superb point from Scott Callanan.

As the half-time whistle sounded, it was that man O’Donovan who tied up the contest at 0-8 apiece.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with the sides level at 0-9 to 0-9 early on, but by the 39th minute Barryroe had a healthy lead of 0-13 to 0-11.

It could have been even more if O'Donovan had squared a pass to one of his colleagues, but his shot drifted over the bar.

As the sides were all square twice over the next ten minutes, this game looked destined to be decided by whoever found the net first, and it was O'Donovan who led the charge, followed by Murphy, as Barryroe opened their championship account on a very positive note.

OUR STAR: Olan O'Donovan scored 1-7, and his 52nd-minute goal set up Barryroe’s strong finish.

Scorers

Barryroe: O O’Donovan 1-7 (3f); R O’Donovan 0-6; L Murphy 1-0; T Ó Buchalla 0-2; A McSweeney, J Murphy, M Whelton (f) 0-1 each.

St Finbarr's: D Murray (1f), S Cunningham, C Buckley 0-4 each; A Buckley 0-2, C Crowley, S Callanan 0-1 each.

Barryroe: M Whelton; D Moloney, J O'Brien, D O'Sullivan; K Sheehy, J Moloney, M Ryan; A McSweeney, D McCarthy; B O’Donovan, T Ó Buchalla, J Murphy; L Murphy, R O’Donovan, O O’Donovan.

Sub: C O’Regan for B O’Donovan (34).

St Finbarr's: J McCarthy; J Kennefick, S O'Leary, S Kennedy; C Crowley, E Keane, T Egan; C O'Connor, C Steele; M Nason, A Buckley, C Buckley; S Cunningham, C Keane, D Murray.

Subs: E Malone for C Keane (35), C Galvin for C Steele (55), S McCarthy for D Murray (57).

Referee: J Smiddy (Castlemartyr).