Sport

Browne in form for Blackrock

Alan Browne inspired Blackrock to their 31st Cork County Senior Hurling championship at Pβirc U∅ Chaoimh yesterday

Mon Oct 08 2001 - 01:00

Alan Browne inspired Blackrock to their 31st Cork County Senior Hurling championship at Pβirc U∅ Chaoimh yesterday. The Cork forward scored 3-8 of his side's total in a man-of-the-match display as the Rockies emulated their 1999 triumph.

While Browne was the scorer in chief another inter-county player also made an immense contribution in defence. Wayne Sherlock, the skipper, restricted Joe Deane to just one point from play, curbing the dangerman with some brilliant defending.

Blackrock played against the strong wind in the first-half, but still managed to lead by 2-3 to 1-4 at the break. Browne pounced for his opening goal after 12 minutes, following a clever Brian O'Keeffe pass and the pair combined again four minutes later for Browne's second.

Former All-Ireland winning captain Mark Landers breathed life into Imokilly's challenge with a goal from a free nine minutes before the break, but they were were to rue their 10 first-half wides.

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Within 90 seconds of the restart Blackrock swept in for their third goal. Browne's initial effort rebounded off a colleague's foot only for Derek Gosnell to score with a sweet overhead strike. That made it 3-3 to 1-4, though the Rockies also struggled with their shooting, eventually registering 13, two less than their opponents.

Ten minutes from the end, with Blackrock 3-5 to 1-6 in front, Imokilly were awarded a 20-metre free in front of the posts. Up came Landers from left half-back once more to drive home his second goal and the game seemed set for an exciting finish.

Another Landers pointed free cut the deficit to the minimum, 3-5 to 2-7, only for Browne to take centre-stage yet again.

The powerfully built full-forward grabbed the remaining scores, 1-3, completing his hat-trick of goals with another super effort four minutes from the end, with O'Keeffe again supplying the scoring pass.

BLACKROCK: T Barry; W Sherlock (capt), N Keane, J Browne; A Ryan, A Cummins, F Ryan; P Tierney, A Coughlan; B Hennebry, L Meaney, D Gosnell (1-0); B O'Keeffe, A Browne (3-8), D Cashman. Sub: D Dempsey for Cashman

IMOKILLY: B Rochford; J Flavin, S Barrett, B Murphy; M Landers (capt) (2-2), M Daly, G Melvin; D Barrett, J Barrett; B Coleman, R Dwane, J Brenner; J O'Driscoll, N McCarthy (0-3), J Deane (0-2).

Referee: K Healy (Cork)