Moneygall’s Adam Hogan flies up into the air after being challenged by Ballybacon/Grange’s Michael Barlow and John Condon during the FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship Group 2 clash in Holycross.PHOTO: Diarmuid Brennan / Sportsfocus

Moneygall and Ballinahinch progress into knockout stages

By Liam Hogan

It’s two out of four for North Tipperary teams in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship as wins for Moneygall and Ballinahinch saw them advance to the knockout stages. Meanwhile it was disappointment for Shannon Rovers and Borrisokane but at least both teams avoided a relegation battle.

Group 1: Borrisokane 0-14 Drom & Inch 0-14

Borrisokane’s interest in the County Intermediate Hurling Championship evaporated in the mist when they could do no more than draw with Drom & Inch in a closely fought contest in Dolla on Sunday evening.

Hit by injuries with Philip Austin and James Hough failing to start Borrisokane led 0-8 to 0-7 at half time after an opening half which had scores level three times. Oisin Larkin scored four of the points, two from play but losing Garry Ryan was a major blow.

However, Drom Inch took over in the third quarter by taking a three point lead but Liam Cleary and another Larkin score had the minimum between the teams in time for the last water-break. Oisin Larkin levelled on the resumption as Drom regained the lead but for Borris to level before the mid-side went 0-14 to 0-13 in front on the hour mark. Three minutes of added time was allowed and the best Borrisokane could do was to see Oisin Larkin grab and equaliser as Borris realised their year was over.

Borrisokane scorers: Oisin Larkin 0-9 (6f); Conor Ryan, Michael Heenan 0-2 each; Liam Cleary 0-1.

Meanwhile, Moyne-Templetuohy confirmed top spot in the group with a 2-29 to 1-13 win over Cappawhite.

Group 2: Moneygall 2-21 Ballybacon/Grange 2-7

Joe Fogarty scored a 1-14 as Moneygall proved too good for Ballybacon/Grange in Holycross on Sunday.

The North champions needed a good start following their defeat to Knockavilla Kickhams in round two and they wasted no time when taking a 0-7 to 0-2 lead by the first waterbreak.

The lead was stretched to eight points when Joe Fogarty found the back of the net in the 17th minute. With Fogarty adding another batch of scores, Ballybacon recovered lost ground as Philip Murphy scored a goal followed by a Brian Dillon point which helped cut the margin to four. It was the nearest the Southsiders’ came to upsetting the odds as two more Fogarty points helped Moneygall to 1-12 to 2-3 half time lead.

Eoin Whyte got in on the act with two points as part of a Moneygall return of four points which was evenly matched by Ballybacon as the sides headed for final water-break.

Moneygall continued to hold the upper hand at 1-18 to 2-7 by the 50th minute and any fear of a late fightback by Ballybacon was dealt a blow when Sean Kenneally scored their second goal close to full time.

Moneygall scorers: Joe Fogarty 1-14; Sean Kenneally 1-0; Eoin Whyte, Mark Fanning 0-2 each; Paddy Fogarty, Brendan Tuohy, Willie Greene 0-1 each

Ballybacon/Grange scorers: Brian Dillon 1-2; Philip Murphy 1-0; Brendan Cummins 0-2 (1’65); Gavin Whelan, Luke O’Brien 0-1 each

Elsewhere, Knockavilla Kickhams confirmed top spot in the group with a 2-15 to 0-9 win over Carrick Davins.

Group 3

Kilsheelan/Kilcash completed a one hundred percent record with a 3-14 to 1-13 win over Moyle Rovers which condemned the Monroe men to a relegation playoff of score difference, pipped for a quarter final spot by Golden-Kilfeacle who defeated Boherlahan-Dualla in a dour affair, 1-9 to 0-6.

Group 4

Ballingarry 1-20 Shannon Rovers 0-19

Shannon Rovers bid to reach the quarter finals just failed but at least there will be no relegation worries as Ballingarry won by four points in Templetuohy on Sunday.

A goal by Ian Ivors proved to be the difference with the Ballingarry centre forward grabbing the all-important score in the second minute. Playing with the stiff breeze Rovers recovered and with Tom Hogan on a par with four pointed frees with Michael Tierney and Michael Slattery and a sideline ball from Andy Byrne putting the Reds 0-8 to 1-1 in front at the first water-break.

But with Dylan Walsh excellent on frees Ballingarry worked their way back into the game and came level before Conal Moran and Michael Slattery scored to move Rovers two clear approaching half time only to see a Dylan Walsh free leaving the minimum between the teams, Rovers 0-11 Ballingarry 1-7.

Very little separated the teams in the third quarter with scores level three times by the 44th minute. Dylan Walsh was one hundred percent from frees and he gave the Southsiders the lead a minute later with the lead increasing to three after Ian Ivors and Cillian Touhy scored.

Conal Moran replied with his fifth point from play but Ian Ivors was in brilliant form as he scored his third. He would add another after Tom Hogan pointed a free before Ballingarry went on a three-point run through Ivors, Walsh (free) and Ciaran Shelly.

Tom Hogan might have landed a goal but he was inches wide from close range before the game fizzled out with Ballingarry heading to the quarter finals and Rovers staying safe of relegation.

Ballingarry scorers: Dylan Walsh 0-10 (8f, 1’65); Ian Ivors 1-4; Conor Vaughan 0-2; Declan Hayes, Shane Fitzgerald, Cillian Tuohy and Ciaran Shelly 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: Tom Hogan 0-10f; Conal Moran 0-5; Andy Byrne 0-2; Michael Slattery, Michael Tierney 0-1 each.

Ballinahinch 0-22 Arravale Rovers 0-15

Ballinahinch are through to the last eight following a seven-point win over Arravale Rovers in Dundrum on Sunday.

Leading from start to finish they led 0-5 to 0-3 at the first water-break before stretching their lead to five at half time, 0-13 to 0-8. They outscored the Tipp town side 0-5 to 0-4 in the third quarter as the eased to a fine win at full time.

Ballinahinch scorers: David Gleeson 0-12; John Foley 0-4; Joey Kelly, Adam Ryan 0-2 each; Kevin Mulcahy, Darragh McGrath 0-1 each.