County Hurling League Round 3 Review
By Liam Hogan
DIVISION 1
Nenagh Eire Og 4-12 J K Brackens 0-14
Nenagh Eire Og had ten points to spare over JK Brackens at MacDonagh Park on Saturday.
Brackens began with promise but their lead was overturned when James Cottrell found the net in the eighth minute. The visitors replied and three quick points had them two in front but points by Adam Carey and Cottrell had scores all square.
Brackens were edging it in terms of points but goals made the difference and green flags by Ben West and Cottrell had the light blues in front at half time, 3-3 to 0-10.
A brief response by Brackens was short term and after three Cottrell frees with further white flags by Paddy Murphy, Mark O’Farrell, Billy Moran and Mikey Heffernan before the icing on the cake came when Ben West scored their fourth goal.
Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-11 Borris-Ileigh 2-11
Nathan Slattery’s goal in the dying moments saw Clonoulty/ Rossmore earn a share of the points with Borris-Ileigh at the Dillon Quirke Grounds on Saturday.
The goal and Stephen Ferncombe’s accuracy 0-10 (8 frees) saw the home side produce a second half comeback after trailing 1-8 to 0-6 at half time.
Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-17 Moycarkey/Borris 0-17
Kilruane secured back to back wins with a goal to spare over Moycarkey/Borris in Cloughjordan on Saturday.
Moycarkey went into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes. Having the crossbar come to their rescue, Kilruane rallied and Michael Cleary’s goal in the 23rd minute enabled parity at the break, 1-7 to 0-10.
By the 42nd minute Kilruane’s lead was out to four, 1-12 to 0-11. Willie Cleary’s accuracy from frees and play 0-7 (5 frees) meant the MacDonaghs could maintain their distance for the remainder but not without the scare of two guilt edge chances by the visitors skimming the crossbar.
Holycross/Ballycahill 0-19 Cashel King Cormacs 5-19
Cashel King Cormacs proved much too strong for an understrength Holycross/Ballycahill side in Holycross on Sunday.
The winners trailed at half time 0-12 to 0-8 but burst into life in the second half with Briain O’Donoghue scoring their first goal. This was followed Ross Bonnar, Daniel Moloney, Devon Ryan and Cathal Quinn finding the net as the West men maintained their winning streak, full points from three games. Devon Ryan scored 1-9 including 0-6 from frees as nine players made the scoresheet.
CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 0-20 Loughmore/Castleiney 2-23
First half goals by Joey Quinn (1-1) and Paul McCahey (1-1) saw Loughmore/Castleiney into an eight point lead at half time which they maintained to record their second win.
Mullinahone produced a strong second half effort but the damage was done in those opening thirty minutes. Philip O’Connell was Loughmore’s top scorer 0-9 (8 frees, 1 sideline).
Elsewhere on Friday, Roscrea and Upperchurch/Drombane played out a 3-8 to 2-11 draw at St Cronan’s Park.
DIVISION 2
Burgess 2-17 Boherlahan-Dualla 3-15
Boherlahan-Dualla secured their second win of the campaign when they defeated Burgess in Kilcolman on Sunday.
The first half produced four goals with David Clarke and Dylan Fogarty on target for the winners who held a 2-9 to 2-6 lead at half time. The Burgess goals were by Joe O’Dwyer and David Nealon and in a well contested game.
Burgess, who were hoping to maintain an unbeaten run were shy a number of regulars but they did see Donagh Maher receive some action in the second half. However, Boherlahan had the last say with Tossy Ryan scoring their third goal to seal victory for the Mid men.
Ballina 2-12 Lorrha 1-21
Lorrha recovered from a slow start to pull away from hosts Ballina in this clash of two winless teams on Sunday.
Matthew Power opened the scoring for the hosts with a goal inside thirty seconds and despite a good Lorrha response, they would add to the lead with a second green flag through Tadhg McKeogh after ten minutes.
From that point onwards however, Lorrha would outscore the hosts 0-11 to 0-1 until the break aided by a strong breeze and seven first half points from Colm Fogarty, four from play.
Lorrha managed the second half well playing into the elements and put the game out of reach with fifteen minutes left when a good team move was clinically finished by Conor Kennedy.
Moneygall 1-13 Moyne-Templetuohy 2-16
Moyne-Templetuohy earned their first win of the league with a deserved six point win over Moneygall at St Flannan’s Park on Sunday.
The visitors had started the better as they went 0-8 to 0-3 in front after twenty minutes. In the same period, Moneygall suffered the loss of two players through injury.
Meanwhile, the hosts gained lost ground as 1-1 by Andy Hoolan and point by Cormac Hoolan had them level. With the help of two Joe Fogarty frees plus another Cormac Hoolan score from play had Moneygall 1-8 to 0-9 in front by half time.
Moyne had the upper hand early if the second half. They had a penalty hit the post but soon after they hit the net to goo three clear after forty minutes. Moneygall stayed in touch and points by Joe Fogarty (frees), Cormac Hoolan (his fourth) Sean Fogarty and Tadgh Whyte had them within one of the deep into injury time saw them well clear at the end.
Thurles Sarsfields and Clonakenny drew 0-14 to 1-11 in the third game of the group.
DIVISION 3
Golden Kilfeacle 1-21 Silvermines 3-8
It was another Ben Currivan show as Golden Kilfeacle made it three wins out of three when easily defeating Silvermines in Golden on Sunday.
The former Tipperary U20 captain was one of nine players on the scoresheet for the division leaders, top scoring with 0-10, five points from play.
Golden hit the ground running and were 1-3 to nil with Tom Byrne supplying the goal in the third minute. They still had a six point advantage before the ‘Mines opened their account with a point. The margin had stretched to ten before Donal Quinn had a goal for the visitors.
Golden’s forwards willing to have a go at the target as points by Currivan, Gavin Barron, Niall Heffernan, Harry Fogarty and Shane Stapleton helped the home side to a 1-13 to 1-2 half time lead.
The margin had increased to twelve before the ‘Mines had a second goal through Danny Quinn in the 40th minute. Continued ‘Mines pressure saw them cut the deficit to eight but Golden had more aces in the pack and continued their positive run with the clock running down to extend their lead out to eleven before another Danny Quinn completed his hat-trick in added time.
Shannon Rovers 2-10 Arravale Rovers 1-24
Arravale Rovers gained their second win thanks to an impressive win over Shannon Rovers in Ballinderry on Sunday.
Commencing with a good start, Arravale led 1-5 to nil. Shannon Rovers recovered with Eamon Hough’s goal leaving them two in arrears 1-9 to 2-4 at half time.
Conal Moran had goal number two for the home side but the visitors were in no room for hanging around and a repeat of last year’s championship meeting when penalties were required to swing the game in Arravale’s way was not happening this time round.
Newport 1-14 Knockavilla-D Kickhams 1-17
Nine players got on the scoresheet as Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams secured their second win when defeating Newport at Lacken Park on Sunday.
Michael Gleeson’s goal in the first half helped them to a 1-9 to 0-4 lead at half time.
The Kickhams top scorer scored 1-4 including three frees as Newport go in search of a second win.