Borrisokane secure safe passage as Newport and Portroe worry about the drop

Intermediate Hurling Championship Round-up

By Liam Hogan

Group 1

Moyle Rovers 3-25 Portroe 3-10

Hot on the heels of a first round defeat at the hands of Cappawhite, hopes of a revival for Portroe against 2024 County Junior champions Moyle Rovers came unstuck in a major way in Boherlahan on Sunday.

A good opening ten minutes, thanks to a Robert Byrne goal, had Port in a good position but Moyle Rovers slowly ground them down and were 1-12 to 2-8 in front at half time thanks to a Kevin Grace goal. The Moyle Rovers midfielder come forward added to two more goals in the second half as he finished top scorer with 3-5.

Portroe, who are pointless, can yet reach a quarter final spot if they beat Skeheenarinky in their final game but will need a favour from group leaders Cappawhite who defeated Skeheenarinky 1-25 to 1-24 to sit on full points after two rounds.

Moyle Rovers scorers: Kevin Grace 3-5; Darragh Ryan 0-11 (8 frees); Killian Butler 0-5; Dean English 0-2; Anthony Phelan, Sean Keating 0-1 each.

Portroe scorers: John Sheedy 1-5 (0-4 frees); Robert Byrne 1-2; Jack Moloney 1-0; Conor O’Brien 0-2; Sam Madden 0-1.

Group 2

Knockavilla-D Kickhams 2-20 Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-19

Ballingarry 2-18 Drom & Inch 0-14

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams confirmed their place in the quarter finals as group winners after getting the better of West rivals Clonoulty/Rossmore in Cappawhite on Friday.

Clonoulty and Ballingarry will face off in a key round 3 game with the winners progressing to the knockout stages. For Drom & Inch, it is a relegation battle.

Group 3

Borrisokane 3-23 Carrick Davins 3-16

Borrisokane made it two wins out of two and progress as group 3 winners after defeating Carrick Davins in Golden on Sunday.

Despite playing against the breeze in the first half, Borrisokane held the upper hand and led by six at half time with Oisin Larkin’s goal giving them a 1-13 to 0-10 lead.

Goals by Michael Heenan and Ciaran Foley enhanced Borrisokane’s grip on the game while Carrick hung on and scored three second half goals through Conor Mackey and two from David Houlihan.

Borrisokane scorers: Oisin Larkin 1-9 (0-4 frees); Michael Heenan 1-4; Jack Larkin 0-4; Ciaran Foley 1-2; Michael Kelly 0-3; Liam Cleary 0-1.

Carrick Davins scorers: Luke Faulkner 0-6 frees; Conor Mackey 1-3; David Houlihan 2-0; Lee Mackey 0-3; Ray Cooke, Billy Roche, Harry Still, Conor O’Leary 0-1 each.

Arravale Rovers 0-22 Newport 0-17

Newport lost their second game to Arravale Rovers in Kilcommon on Sunday evening and are definite candidates for a relegation battle no matter how they fare against Borrisokane with the other group game between Davins and Arravale is a winner takes all.

Group 4

Shannon Rovers 3-13 Ballybacon/Grange 1-14

Shannon Rovers got their County Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign back on track when they defeated Ballybacon/Grange in a poor game played in Borrisoleigh last Sunday.

They enjoyed the best start when Marcus Esmonde had the first green flag with twenty seconds just gone. Andy Byrne’s point in the third minute had Rovers 1-1 to 0-1 in front but the good start was undone by the concession of frees and Ballybacon had levelled with Oisin Ryan accurate with his third free in the eleventh 11th minute.

However, Rovers looked best every time going forward and three minutes later they were back in front when Eamon Hough fired home a second goal.

Still playing on the front foot, Rovers continued to press and stretched their lead to seven by half time after Andy Byrne, Eamon Hough, John O’Meara and Conal Moran, both from frees and play, 2-8 to 0-7.

Legendary Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, now in his fourth decade playing adult hurling, scored three points in the half, including one from a puckout and aided by the breeze in the second half, Ballybacon/Grange reduced the deficit to five after frees by Cummins and Oisin Ryan.

But the Rovers came good once more as Eamon Hough’s second goal plus another Moran free put them eight points in front at three quarter mark.

However, Ballybacon continued to fight and Billy Hewitt’s 48th minute goal had them four in arrears and plenty of time to come back. However, Vincent Mulvihill’s puckout went all the way over the bar and brought welcome relief with Gerry Cronin reducing matters to four with ten minutes remaining.

The closing stages had the Rovers defence under much pressure, but Alan & George Hannigan met the challenge while Conal Moran pointed his fifth placed ball. Rovers were defiant and after James O’Mahony scored for the South men, substitute Aaron Hogan with the final say in added time to round off a five-point win.

In the other game in the group, Golden Kilfeacle defeated Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-25 to 2-20. Rovers will meet Golden Kilfeacle in their last group game and will need a win to secure a place in the quarter finals. As North champions a defeat would mean a preliminary quarter final.

Shannon Rovers scorers: Eamon Hough 2-2; Conal Moran 0-6 (5 frees); Marcus Esmonde 1-0; Andy Byrne 0-2; John O’Meara, Vincent Mulvihill, Aaron Hogan 0-1 each.

Ballybacon/Grange scorers: Oisin Ryan 0-7 4 frees; Brendan Cummins 0-4 (2 frees); Billy Hewitt 1-0; Ronan Myles, Gerry Cronin, James O’Mahony 0-1 each.