County Hurling League Round 2 Round-Up

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Kilruane MacDonaghs 5-14 Nenagh Eire Og 0-24

It’s two wins out of two for Kilruane MacDonaghs who defeated Nenagh Eire Og who are without a win following in a high scoring encounter played in Cloughjordan on Saturday.

Having scored six goals in their opening round win over JK Brackens, the home side were not shy once again and were out of the stalls with a twelfth minute goal by Paddy Ryan who finished off a rebound after a save by Mark Tuite in the Nenagh goal. The goal gave Kilruane a three-point advantage with them leading 1-8 to 0-8 at half time.

Two minutes into the second half Conor Cleary had doubled their goal tally. Nenagh kept in touch as Killian Malone scored eleven points, while Tommy Heffernan found the target with regularity. But Kilruane continued to secure the goals as Jerome Cahill (41st), and two from Willie Cleary in the 49th & 52nd minutes helped the home side to a five-point victory.

Thurles sarsfields 1-15 Borris-Ileigh 2-12

Thurles Sarsfields and Borris-Ileigh share the spoils when the sides met in Killinan on Saturday. Borris-Ileigh led 1-7 to 0-6 at half time. Aidan McCormack was Sarsfields leading scorer with 0-9 and Billy McCarthy scored 1-1.

CLONOULTY/ROSSMORE 3-23 JK BRACKENS 1-10

Stephen Ferncombe scored 1-8 as Clonoulty/Rossmore earned their first win thanks to a nineteen-point win over JK Brackens in Clonoulty on Sunday.

KILADANGAN 0-23 LOUGHMORE/CASTLEINEY 0-14

Tadgh Gallagher scored five points from play as Kiladangan got back to winning ways when they defeated Loughmore/Castleiney on Puckane on Sunday.

Billy Seymour led the way with five points as Kiladangan dominated the opening half to take a 0-13 to 0-5 half time lead.

However, Loughmore had managed to cut the margin back to six by the 36th minute and they had the margin down to six for the second time when Liam McGrath pointed another free to leave it 0-17 to 0-11 with a quarter of an hour remaining. McGrath was Loughmore’s top scorer with eleven points, but his efforts were not enough as Kiladangan’s extra firepower made the difference with Bryan McLoughney and substitutes Tom O’Meara and D J McGrath each finding the target.

Mullinahone 2-12 Toomevara 1-24

Toomevara were impressive in a confident win against the Mullinahone in Kickham country on Saturday.

Mullinahone were matched score for score in the first half with David Nolan, Darren Delaney and Conor O’Meara scoring well for the visitors. Jason Ryan, ably assisted by his brother Andrew at centre back, were dominant and giving good ball to the forwards. Any free was well-pointed by David Nolan and this kept Toome in the game against the wind. Mullinahone were well in this game and two goals by Dan McCormack and Eoin Dwyer in a short spell gave them a three-point lead going into the half time break, 2-10 to 0-13.

The second half provided Toomevara with good chances as the delivery from Rory Brislane in the goal was very direct. Scores came regularly for Josh McCarthy, Conor O’Meara, and Jim Duignan before a well-worked goal from Paul Ryan was the moment when this match was decided as Toome recorded a nine-point win.

UPPERCHURCH/DROMBANE 1-16 Drom & Inch 1-20

Drom & Inch now sit in pole position after two games in group 2 following this four-point win over Upperchurch/Drombane in Drombane on Sunday.

DIVISION 2

Killenaule 1-17 Portroe 0-18

Three late points by Eoin O’Connell, Michael Doyle and Darragh Fitzgerald helped Killenaule to their first win when defeating Portroe in Killenaule last Sunday.

The winners stormed into a 1-4 to no score lead after nine minutes with John O’Dwyer finding the net after five minutes. Five unanswered frees from Portroe’s Kevin O’Halloran brought Portroe back into the game but at half time, trailing 1-9 to 0-9.

Both sides traded points during the early stages of the second half. Portroe then took command with four unanswered points through Sam Madden, John Sheedy (65), Ruadhan Mulrooney and a Sheedy free to go one point ahead with time almost up. However, it was Killenaule who finished the stronger with three unanswered points sealing the win.

Moycarkey-Borris 0-25 Clonakenny 1-11

With the help of nine scorers, including Max Hackett and John Bergin with five points each, Moycarkey/Borris were too strong for near neighbours Clonakenny in Littleton on Sunday. At half time it was Moycarkey-Borris 0-15 Clonakenny 0-4

ST MARY’S 1-14 EIRE OG ANNANARTY 1-21

Eire Og Annacarty made it two wins from two following their seven-point win over St Mary’s in Clonmel on Sunday.

Helped by a fortunate goal, when Conor O’Brien’s long delivery was spilt over the line by the goalkeeper, helped Annacarty six clear at half time, 1-13 to 1-7.

Powered on by further points from Donal O’Dwyer (4) and Aidan GriffIn (7), the West side came out comfortable winners thanks to the assistance of Brian Fox and Paudie Bradshaw.

Templederry Kenyons 3-24 Cashel King Cormacs 0-16

Templederry earned their first win with a comfortable home win over Cashel King Cormacs on Saturday.

Two early goals from Sean Ryan and Colm Murray had them off to a great start to lead 2-18 to 0-9 at half time. Ryan added a second goal in the second half to finish with 2-3 with Eanna Murray contributing eight points and five each from Adrian Ryan and Odhran Murphy.

ROSCREA 1-24 HOLYCROSS/BALLYCAHILL 1-22

Roscrea made it two wins from two with a high scoring home win over Holycross/Ballycahill on Sunday and sit top of the table while in the remaining game in the group Gortnahoe/Glengoole won 2-16 to 0-18 away to Carrick-on-Suir.

DIVISION 3

Knockavilla Kickhams 1-11 Ballina 0-14

Knockavilla Kickhams and Ballina shared the spoils following their clash at Dundrum on Sunday. Ballina led 0-11 to 1-5 at half time. David Butler was the goal scorer in the eleventh minute.

MOYNE-TEMPLETUOHY 1-21 NEWPORT 1-19

Two late points helped Moyne Templetuohy gain their first win of the campaign with a win over visitors Newport on Sunday.

Moyne led 1-11 to 1-10 at half time. Darragh Carroll was Newport’s top scorer with 0-11 including seven from frees. Colin Floyd scored 1-2.

SILVERMINES 2-17 BALLINGARRY 0-16

Silvermines pulled away in the second half to maintain their unbeaten start following a seven-point win over Ballingarry in Dolla on Sunday.

Scored were level three times in the opening ten minutes before Ballingarry went three to the good with sixteen minutes gone. Rory Maher replied with a free in the 17th minute and then the ‘Mines took the lead a minute later when Oisin Murphy scored a goal. However, Ballingarry regained the lead but further scores by Rory Maher and Oisin Murphy had the ‘Mines level before Colm O’Brien had their second goal seconds before half time.

With O’Brien and Darragh Nolan adding points the ‘Mines were six clear by the 34th minute. It was point for point over the remainder of the game with the difference changing from five and six points respectively before Andy Hayden increased the lead to seven in the 55th minute allowing the ‘Mines to survive.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 0-14 Lorrha 3-22

Lorrha’s one-hundred mile round-trip to the Waterford border was a fruitful one on Sunday as they earned a comfortable win over last year’s county intermediate finalists Kilsheelan/Kilcash.

The home side began brightly and raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with Barry Kehoe and Martin Gibbs to the fore. However, once Lorrha settled they were much the better side with Colm Fogarty to the fore with eleven points, nine from frees, and goals from Chris Fogarty and Darragh Guinan saw Lorrha into a 2-12 to 0-10 half time lead following a fast-paced first half.

An early second half goal from David Fogarty, who finished with 1-4, ended the game as a contest with both sides emptying the benches in the final quarter.

Moneygall 0-16 Burgess 1-18

Eoin Grace scored 1-8 as Burgess joined Silvermines at the top of the group table thanks to a five-point win over Moneygall at St. Flannan’s Park om Sunday. His goal in the 42nd minute was the score that eased Burgess to victory.

DIVISION 4

Shannon Rovers 0-17 Borrisokane 3-20

Goals win games and Borrisokane struck three to steer them to an impressive twelve-point win over Shannon Rovers at Ballinderry Sportsfield last Sunday.

Oisin Larkin had the first goal after only six minutes. Borrisokane went 1-6 to 0-3 in front by the 15th minute, but Rovers hit back with four unanswered points with top scorer Tom Hogan accurate from two frees with Michael Slattery and Andrew Byrne also on target.

By half time Borrisokane led 1-11 to 0-10 and inside the opening six minutes of the second half they had stretched their lead to nine after Oisin larking scored his second goal with Brian Davies adding a long-range effort. Both Tom Hogan and Brian Davis swapped frees before Jack Larkin struck from the right wing followed by another Oisin Larkin free. Points from Tom Hogan (free), Conal Moran and George Hannigan cut the margin back to eight, 2-16 to 0-14.

But any hope of Rovers cutting the margin even more was dealt a blow when an unmarked Jack Larkin scored his team’s third goal and with it there was no turning back.

DIVISION 6

Knockshegowna 2-16 Loughmore/Castleiney 2-9

Two goals by Eamon Murphy in quick succession saw Knockshegowna win their second game when they defeated Loughmore/Castleiney in Ballingarry on Sunday.

Knockshe led 2-11 to 1-3 at half time. Loughmore came more into the game in the second half but the home side, thanks to brilliant free taking by Michael Egan prevailed.