Blackhall Gaels 0-15 Dunderry 1-12

This Blackhall team has defied the odds this year. They faced near relegation last year and have since turned it around and are now serious contenders for the Championship.

They have already gone further than any other Blackhall hurling team has ever gone, and it doesn't look like they want to stop. Sunday's display of hurling was without a doubt the most exciting and heart stopping match the club has been involved in this year's championship. Blackhall were glad to welcome home Shane Whitty and with a slightly rejigged team sheet the boys lined out ready to hit the ground running.

Darren O'Loughlin got Blackhall on the score sheet early with a point. Dunderry were quick to equalise with a free. The game looked to be set to become tit-for-tat with every score for one side resulting in the same for the other. Dunderry eventually went ahead with third point but Darren O'Loughlin kept the Gaels kicking over.

Dunderry hit their purple patch inside the second quarter and went three up. Patrick Smith did outstanding on his wing while his brother battled hard on the other to keep the Dunderry scores to a minimum. Things heated up
and with it came some indiscipline from the Blackhall men. Silly frees resulted in scores and the majority of the first half was merely a battle of the free takers.

Emmet Dalton pulled off some mental saves and came out with the  ball a few times. Shane Whitty gifted his older
brother the score of the first half with a super pass back for Colm to slot the ball over the bar from near the 70. Not to be out done, Shane added his own name to the score sheet shortly after to put the Gaels men back in front. Dunderry hit back however and got a goal on the brink of halftime leaving Blackhall trailing by 3, 1-9 to 9 points.

At the reset Kevin Maye rejigged the team again. Tom Delaney found himself in full back while cousin Conor took his place at centre half forward. A new position for the young Delaney man but one that did not faze him. Dunderry were first to score, extending their lead to four.

O'Loughlin slotted over his sixth, seventh and eighth frees to get Blackhall back to a single point behind. Tom Murphy, who was fighting hard all over the pitch got a heavy tackle and was visibly in pain for the majority of the second half. Hugh Smith stepped up his game and showed Dunderry what the future of Blackhall looks like with his
impressive forward plays.

A more defensive half meant left scores for both sides but the game was hard hitting and very exciting. Dunderry
went three ahead again and looked to be set for the win, fortunately, Blackhall had other ideas. Wise moves from the sideline saw Delaney move back to the backs and Dan Carty push out the field, leaving a string of Dunderry men in his wake.

Tommy Coyle replaced Niall Mangan and after a serious belt across the knee Alan Nestor was replaced by Nigel O'Hora. Blackhall kept Dunderry scoreless for the final 10 minutes, scoring three unanswered points to split the spoils in Kilmessan.

The final score was Blackhall 0-15 Dunderry 1-12.

Blackhall now face Trim in the Quarter Final, a match that is sure to be a tough event for these boys. With a few players still to return from injury, Blackhall will be hoping to continue their Championship campaign. However, even if those players do not make a recovery in time Blackhall needn't fear. Impressive performances from both the O'Loughlin and Smith brothers, not to mention the Whittys on Sunday are promising ahead of the more serious matches to come.

Blackhall: Emmet Dalton, Conor Delaney, Shane O'Loughlin, Dan Carty, Patrick Smith, Shane Whitty (0-1), Hugh Smith, Tom Murphy, Stephen Morris, Paul Kelly (0-1), Tom Delaney (0-1), Colm Whitty, Darren O'Loughlin (0-11 (9F)), Niall Mangan, Alan Nestor Subs: Tom Coyle, Nigel O'Hora

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