GAA CLUB ROUND-UP: BLACKROCK, THE most decorated club in Cork hurling and one of the most honoured clubs in the country, retained their senior status in the most dramatic fashion against Blarney last night.
Having already lost to Douglas, Sarsfields and Cloyne, Blackrock – who have won 32 county senior championships, five Munster titles and three All-Irelands – went into the relegation play-off with the mid-Cork club knowing that whichever side lost would be playing at premier intermediate level in 2011.
A late point from Blarney captain James Hughes looked to have given Blarney the win, but, from the puck out, Shane O’Keeffe found namesake Kevin O’Keeffe and he finished to the net to snatch a 1-14 to 1-12 win.
Sarsfields, county hurling champions in 2008, qualified for the semi-finals of this year’s competition with a 2-20 to 2-6 win over Bride Rovers last night.
Erins Own and Newtownshandrum drew on Saturday, 2-14 to 3-11.
Omagh scraped through to the Tyrone SFC semi-finals with a narrow 2-2 to 0-7 win over Ardboe last night. Coalisland booked their last-four place with a 1-6 to 0-8 win over Errigal Ciarán. Carrickmore romped to a 2-14 to 0-4 win over the reigning champions Dromore.
Three of the four semi-finalists in Wicklow’s senior football championship were decided as Rathnew, St Patrick’s and Blessington all won. Baltinglass and Bray Emmets drew 0-8 to 1-5.
