Blackwater CS 3-20
Charleville CBS 0-9
 
CHARLEVILLE CBS will face an uphill task if they are to qualify from Group B of the Dr Harty Cup after they suffered a heavy defeat to Blackwater CS of Waterford at Fermoy yesterday.
An over-reliance on Pa O’Callaghan for scores, as well as a failure to make the most of the wind in the first half, meant that Charleville turned with a seven-point interval deficit of 2-7 to 0-6 and a comeback was always going to be a tough task.
In addition, Charleville found themselves up against tough opponents in the Lismore outfit, for whom Waterford minor Shane Bennett scored 1-11, including a first-minute goal.
His brother Stephen at centre-back also shone, as did full-back Colm Roche, while in attack two-goal hero Mikey Kearney and David Geary played their parts.
Despite falling behind to that goal from Shane Bennett, Charleville responded well as Jack Barry pointed and then they were awarded a penalty but Roche made a fine block to send O’Callaghan’s shot out for a 65.
That was converted, though, and then he won the puckout and sent it back over to level. After Shane Bennett put Blackwater back in front, they would lead from there to end, however, Kearney getting a second goal on 17 to augment the lead, with the remainder of the half a free-taking shootout between O’Callaghan and Shane Bennett.
Though O’Callaghan got the first point of the second half for Charleville, by the time Jack Buckley got their second Blackwater had scored 1-5, Kearney again with the goal as he punished an error by goalkeeper Michael Browne.
But for Browne, however, the damage could have been greater as he made a number of good saves in the second half. He could do little to stop the flow of points, though, with Shane Bennett again the main scorer for Blackwater, though midfielder Conor Murray, subs Aaron O’Sullivan and Jordan Shanahan also got in on the act.
O’Callaghan, who had spent much of the second half isolated in the full-forward line,
 
Scorers for Blackwater CS: Shane Bennett 1-11 (0-9f), M Kearney 2-1, J Shanahan, C Murray 0-2 each, Stephen Bennett, D Geary (0-1f), S O’Brien, A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Charleville CBS: P O’Callaghan 0-7 (0-3f, 0-1 65), J Buckley, J Barry 0-1 each.
BLACKWATER CS: S Barry; K Bennett, C Roche, J Ring; C Leamy, Stephen Bennett, D Meagher; C Murray, P Coleman; Shane Bennett, D Geary, N Fives; M Kearney, S O’Bren, R O’Sullivan.
Subs: A O’Sullivan for R O’Sullivan (half-time), J Shanahan for Geary, B Ryan for Roche, P Hennessy for Meagher, A O’Dwyer for Leamy (all 58).
CHARLEVILLE CBS: M Browne (Ballyhea); P O’Loughlin (Kilmallock), D Cotter (Bruree), C O’Gorman (Milford); E O’Leary (Ballyhea), C Twomey (Newtownshandrum), D Butler (Charleville); J Buckley (Charleville), J Fitzgerald (Charleville); J Barry (Charleville), P O’Callaghan (Ballyhea), J McCarthy (Ballyhea); D Casey (Charleville), D Browne (Newtownshandrum), C Laffan (Croom).
Subs: S Griffin (Newtownshandrum) for Laffan (half-time), K McCarthy (Charleville) for Twomey, J Moloney (Charleville) for Barry (both 37).
Referee: N Cosgrave (Tipperary).