Evening Echo
by John Horgan
Tuesday, 3rd September 2002

And then there were two. The two best teams in the permanent tsb Cork Co SHC have made it through to the final frontier and Blackrock and Newtownshandrum might just provide us with the match we crave for.

Last Sunday's semi-finals didn't set our pulses racing and, for the most part, the sub-standard fare that had transpired over a very mediocre campaign.

Semi-finals are there to be won, the manner of the victory doesn't really matter, the object of the exercise is a place in the final.

For that reason Blackrock won't be too perturbed that they made life difficult for themselves in disposing of a young, inexperienced Sarsfield's side.

It was far from a regal display by the defending champs and a repeat of it might not suffice against a more formidable side.

Maybe, if Adrian Coughlan hadn't been in such sublime form the tale at headquarters might have been different and if Sars had any type of penetration in front of goal, Blackrock nerves might have jangled a lot more.

Coughlan is having a good year and against the 'Barr's and, on Sunday, he was quite clearly Blackrock's best player.

Once more the defensive rearguard is the rock on which this Rockies' team is built on and Alan Cummins, Noel Keane and Wayne Sherlock were all major contributors again this time.

Up front, though, the picture is not quite so clear, evidenced by the fact that only seven points were scored from play against Sars.

Taking back-to-back titles is proving a very difficult challenge these days, Midleton in 1986 and '87 were the last side to do it.

But, I suppose, not functioning to your full potential and still being in the final again will do for now in Blackrock. Mission accomplished thus far.

Newtownshandrum had it easier than most people had envisaged against Avondhu who flopped completely in the closing sequences.

Tom Ryan is doing a hell of a good job with this Newtown side and if you took both semi-finals on Sunday as an indicator to what might transpire in the final, then his side have an excellent chance of regaining the title.

Like the Rockies, most of this side have county medals tucked away and they won't be fazed by taking on the favourites.

This Newtown team is as good if not better than the side of 2000 and the balance appears to be a bit stronger.

Pat Mulcahy, at centre-back, flanked by Phil Noonan and Alan T. O'Brien form a strong half-back line and the majority of the six forwards are all capable of putting scores on the board.

Again, in both semi-finals if you were scouting around for fresh Cork material, you wouldn't have found too many nuggets.

Aside from the tried and trusted only Adrian Coughlan really caught the eye. John Quinlan took his goals well for Avondhu but, as we all know, county championship hurling and intercounty are worlds apart.

With just one championship game left, the story remains the same: there is a dearth of talent in Cork hurling.