County Hurling League Round 4 Review
By Liam Hogan
Division 1
Kiladangan 4-23 Nenagh Eire Og 0-12
Kiladangan resumed winning ways when defeating a weakened Nenagh Eire Og side in in Puckaun on Friday.
Goals by Joe Gallagher, Darren Moran and Tadgh Gallagher helped Kiladangan to a 3-11 to 0-8 lead at half time. A second goal by Joe Gallagher in the second half put the game out of Nenagh’s reach. Michael Heffernan with 0-4 was Nenagh’s top scorer with Jamie Cottrell, Mason Cawley, and Filip McIntyre also on target. However, Kiladangan had the aces up front with Billy Seymour top scorer 0-7 (5 frees), ahead of Joe Gallagher while Tadgh Gallagher picked up 1-2 and Sean Hayes 0-4.
Borris-Ileigh 4-24 Drom & Inch 4-14
Borris-Ileigh caused an upset when defeating neighbours Drom & Inch in a goal fest in Borrisoleigh on Saturday.
Taking an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead through the efforts of Conor Kenny and JD Devaney, Borris went all out in the second quarter when goals by Jerry Kelly and Jack Hogan helped them to a 2-14 to 1-7 half time lead. Maidhc Fitzpatrick was the Drom goal-scorer while John Campion adding 0-4 from frees.
Paudie Kinnane scored a goal for Drom in the opening minutes of the second half but Borris-Ileigh regained control and goals by Michael & Eddie Ryan helped them to an eight point win. Eddie Ryan scored 1-8 (0-8 frees) for Borris as did John Campion who scored his 1-8 from placed balls.
JK Brackens 3-19 Clonoulty/Rossmore 2-20
It was so fitting that JK Brackens could win their first County Hurling League game in the week they lost one of their favourite sons Ronan Loughnane.
Played in Templemore on Saturday, the game had a minute’s silence to honour his memory before commencement and Clonoulty’s Jimmy Ryan Con presented a bouquet of flowers to the JK Brackens club in his honour.
The opening half produced plenty of goals with the home side collecting green flags through Ned Walsh (3-1) in the 12th & 29th minutes. Stephen Ferncombe 1-11 (1-7 frees) and Jimmy Maher (1-2) were the Clonoulty goalscorers as they led 2-9 to 2-8 at half time. Both Lyndon Fairbrother (0-9 frees, 1’65) and Stephen Ferncombe battled it out on frees but it was Ned Walsh’s third goal in the 43rd minute that clinched the deal for the home side.
Cashel King Cormacs 1-22 Thurles Sarsfields 1-15
A strong second half performance saw Cashel King Cormacs continue their unbeaten run over Thurles Sarsfields in Leahy Park on Friday.
The winners led 1-11 to 1-9 at half time with two well-executed goals by Ross Bonnar while Devon Ryan added seven points. Kieran Rossiter had the Thurles three-pointer.
Cashel had the greater ability to pick up scores with Bonnar, Shane Neville, Conor O’Dwyer and Brian O’Donoghue doubling their account not forgetting a Devon Ryan’s brilliant sideline ball. Tommy Maher and Aidan McCormack were also on target for the Blues.
Toomevara 2-21 Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-16
Toomevara end a run of disappointing results to defeat neighbours Kilruane MacDonaghs in Toomevara on Saturday.
The home side had the better of matters in the first half and led 0-12 to 0-10.
A point by Michael Cleary and a fortuitous goal by Kian O’Kelly put Kilruane in front. In the 44th minute, Toome had their first goal through Adam Hall.
A minute later, O’Kelly raised his second green flag and Kilruane were two in front heading into the last quarter. With ten minutes remaining the teams were level but a 53rd minute goal by Colm Canning had Toome in front once more and they managed to stay in front for a deserved win.
Gortnahoe/Glengoole 3-22 Upperchurch/Drombane 0-18
Goals by Darragh Maher, Brian Maher, and Billy Hogan helped Gortnahoe/Glengoole defeat Upperchurch/Drombane in Gortnahoe on Friday.
Loughmore/Castleiney 3-16 Carrick Swan 3-18
A strong finish helped Carrick Swan to victory over Loughmore/Castleiney at Cugilla on Friday.
Loughmore were on top in the first quarter and two Joey Quinn goals had them 2-5 to 0-3 in front after fifteen minutes. They held on to their lead until the approach to half time when Carrick hit back with goals by Eric O’Halloran and Aaron Dunne. Quinn completed his hat-trick seconds later, and if that was not enough Dunne had his second goal for the Carrick side to see them trailing by two at half time, 3-6 to 3-8.
The visitors started the second half with four quick points but the outcome was in doubt until the final minutes when Callum Walsh’s 55th minute free put Swan two in front enough to see them over the line.
Roscrea 0-27 CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 0-15
Roscrea rose to first place following their seven point win over CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in Roscrea on Saturday.
Division 2
Lorrha 2-23 Burgess 0-18
Two goals inside the first ten minutes sent Lorrha on their way to victory in this clash of sides that are due to meet again in the group stages of the County Premier Intermediate Championship.
Played at Tony Reddin Park on Saturday, Conor Kennedy opened the scoring with a green flag in the first minute and Colm Fogarty finished off a slick passing move ten minutes later. The lead would increase to eleven points (2-13 v 0-8) by half time, including five first half points for Donnacha O'Meara.
Burgess threatened a comeback after the break, closing the gap to six points with Paul Cahalan scoring five points. But Lorrha regained momentum in the final quarter, Colm Fogarty pushing out his tally to 1-10 by the end of the game.
Boherlahan-Dualla’s 2-24 to 1-22 win over Killenaule moves them to pole position in the group while St. Mary’s and Ballina drew in Clonmel.
Moneygall 2-24 Clonakenny 3-16
Moneygall defeated near neighbours in Clonakenny in St Flannan’s Park on Saturday.
The visitors started the better when taking a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes. Moneygall went in front for the first time after 25 minutes after Joe Fogarty and Eoghan Doughan put Cian Ryan through for a goal. It was 1-10 to 0-9 at half time.
Moneygall began the second half in style and a move involving Cormac Hoolan and Cian Ryan saw Tadgh White through for his team’s second goal. Clonakenny began to recover lost ground and three goals in the last quarter Sean Stapleton (2) and Oisin O’Dwyer put a better gloss on the scoreboard. It wasn’t enough as Moneygall, with ten players making the scoreboard, had Eoghan Doughan on song with 0-8.
Moyne-Templetuohy defeated Templederry 1-29 to 3-20 while group leaders Eire Og Annacarty won 2-24 to 1-18 over Thurles Sarsfields.
Division 3
Golden Kilfeacle 0-18 Cappawhite 1-14
Golden Kilfeacle need the accuracy of Ben Currivan to make sure they kept their unbeaten run going when defeating Cappawhite on Friday.
Golden led 0-8 to 0-7 at half time and managed to stretch their lead to four with six minutes remaining. Then Willie Barry had a goal for Cappawhite. Currivan replied to move Golden two in front with his thirteenth point leaving Cappawhite just enough time to grab a consolation point with time running out.
Portroe defeated Ballingarry 0-23 to 1-19 at Portroe last Saturday.
Arravale Rovers 0-19 Newport 0-18
Arravale Rovers received a fright from Newport when they had one point to spare at Tipperary Town last Saturday.
The home side started well with early scores by Seanie O’Mahony before Newport replied with frees by Colin Floyd and Conor Floyd (2). It was 0-10 each at half time. It was nip and tuck during the second half with Orrin Jones and Donnacha Quigley scoring for Rovers while Oran Connors levelled approaching full time until Eoin Lonergan’s fourth point from play proved to be the winner.
Shannon Rovers 3-21 Sean Treacys 1-27
Injury time points by Max Carroll and Patrick Dawson (0-13) earned Sean Treacys a share of the spoils with Shannon Rovers in Toomevara on Tuesday of last week.
A goal by Andy Byrnes had Rovers 1-3 to 0-3 in front after six minutes. Three minutes later Colm Kennedy’s goal brought Sean Treacys level 1-4 each. A second Andy Byrne goal had Rovers 2-9 to 1-9 in front by the 26th minute but Treacys hit four unanswered points to lead by one at the break.
Rovers regained the lead with Eamon Hough’s great goal after 42 minutes. Score for score continued with Conal Moran and Aaron Hogan sharing the free-taking duties for the Rovers as they matched the accuracy of Dawson. That’s the way it continued before two Conal Moran frees (0-11) moved the Reds in front approaching the hour but Treacys secured a deserved draw from a Dawson free.
Division 4
Despite losing 5-15 to 0-20 at home to Moyle Rovers on Saturday, Toomevara still have a chance of making the final as they sit in joint first place with Rovers on six points.
Division 5
Ballinahinch top Group 1 on seven points after they defeated Rockwell Rovers 2-28 to 3-18 and the result keeps them in contention for a place in the final. Kilruane are second in Group 3 with four points with an outside chance of making the semi final.
Division 6
Knockshegowna’s 1-14 to 0-17 draw with St Patrick’s keeps them in contention for a place in the knockout positions.