Way clear for hurling knockouts

By Shane Brophy

Following the final round of group games in the FBD Insurance County Hurling Championships, the way is set clear for the knockout stages, bar the intermediate championship where a playoff has thrown the spanner in the works following a unique situation.

Senior

In the senior championship, last weekends results has led to group winners of Kilruane MacDonaghs, Drom & Inch, Upperchurch/Drombane and Kiladangan, joined by runners-up, Nenagh Eire Og, Thurles Sarsfields, Toomevara and Loughmore/Castleiney.

However, with divisional winners Clonoulty/Rossmore (West) and JK Brackens (Mid) having not qualified from their groups, it means two preliminary quarter finals are required and in a draw with the runners-up teams, Clonoulty/Rossmore will play Thurles Sarsfields and JK Brackens up against Nenagh Eire Og. Despite Nenagh being a North champion, they were in the draw as the only benefit of winning a divisional title is the safety net of having a preliminary quarter final game, if needed.

Both preliminary quarter finals will be played next Sunday with the winners progressing to the quarter finals on 24-25 September with repeat pairings from groups not allowed.

In terms of senior relegation containing the bottom sides in each group, following a draw it will see Templederry Kenyons v Mullinahone and Moycarkey/Borris v Eire Og Annacarty. Both games will be played on 24-25 September with the two losers meeting in a final with the loser dropping to premier intermediate.

Premier Intermediate

In the Premier Intermediate Championship, the top seeds for the quarter finals as group winners are St Marys, Roscrea, Gortnahoe/Glengoole and Cashel King Cormacs with the runners-up being Burgess, Silvermines, Thurles Sarsfields and Portroe.

With divisional winners Clonakenny (Mid) and Carrick Swan (South) failing to progress from their groups, it requires two preliminary quarter finals with Carrick Swan drawn to meet Silvermines next Saturday while Clonakenny will play Burgess next Sunday.

The relegation playoffs remain in flux as Carrick Swan will be involved in them as they finished bottom of their group, however, they can except themselves if they go on and win the county championship, so playoff bound Ballina, Newport and Kiladangan now facing a waiting game with a likely round-robin scenario required if Carrick Swan are not involved.

Intermediate Hurling

The Intermediate Hurling Championship isn’t quite clear cut either. What we do know is top seeds for the quarter finals as group winners are Moneygall, Skeheenarinky, Drom & Inch and Lorrha.

The confirmed runners-up so far are Cappawhite, Kilsheelan/Kilcash and Golden-Kilfeacle, however, a playoff is required for the final place between Borrisokane and Knockavilla Kickhams after their group finished in exciting fashion on Sunday.

Following Borrisokane’s five-point win over Kickhams in Newport, it meant both sides along with Ballinahinch finished with two points in the table, behind Skeheenarinky. When three teams are tied, score difference is the determining factor with Borrisokane and Kickhams having the same on -2 with Ballinahinch on -4.

However, Borrisokane and Kickhams were also tied on total scores of 66 points through their three matches, so it means a playoff will be required and is fixed for next Saturday in Borrisoleigh.

The winner will be the final second placed team, however, a defeat for Kickhams (as West champions) would see them fall into a preliminary quarter final along with Mid champions Boherlahan-Dualla who also failed to progress from their group.

As the preliminary quarter finals cannot be played next weekend like the two higher grades because of the playoff, it could have an impact on the remaining intermediate schedule, particularly if the preliminary quarter finals involve either Kilsheelan or Golden, as both are involved in senior and intermediate football quarter finals respectively on 17-18 September.

In terms of intermediate relegation, it is more straightforward with the four teams in the playoffs known in Ballybacon/Grange, Ballinahinch, Shannon Rovers and Carrick Davins.