County Hurling League Report

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Kilruane MacDonaghs 3-19 Thurles Sarsfields 1-23

Kilruane MacDonaghs had to come from behind to get over Thurles Sarsfields in a high scoring contest played in Cloughjordan on Good Friday.

Kilruane played with a slight breeze in the first half but played second fiddle to Sarsfields who crowned their opening half with a Pa Bourke goal three minutes into added time to make it 1-14 to 0-11.

With the six-point disadvantage and facing a stiff breeze a comeback seemed insurmountable, but the high scoring home side were very soon back on track as they scored three goals in eighteen minutes through Kian O’Kelly, Jerome Cahill, and Kevin Ryan to put them in front. It was nip and tuck in the final minutes with Pa Bourke’s last grasp close in free denied at the brink.

Once again Willie Cleary was top scorer on 0-9 (6 frees) for Kilruane with Jerome Cahill scoring 1-3. Eoin Hogan, Thomas Cleary, Conor Cleary, and Eoin Carroll getting on the scoresheet.

Kilruane play Borris-Ileigh and Clonoulty/Rossmore in their final two games. Thurles Sarsfields face JK Brackens and Clonoulty/Rossmore.

JK Brackens 0-9 Borris-Ileigh 0-19

Borris-Ileigh were never in trouble as they cast JK Brackens aside to remain unbeaten with a ten-point win in Templemore on Good Friday.

Borris-Ileigh manager Shane O’Neill placed Brendan Maher at centre back and gave competitive starts to Jody Harkin and Shane McCormack alongside season debuts for Paddy Stapleton, Niall Kenny, and Thomas Fahy

Borris wasted no time in taking charge with Jerry Kelly accurate both from frees and play with Niall Kenny, Shane McCormack, and James Devaney also on the scoresheet which led them to a 0-10 to 0-5 half time lead.

Borris continued to dominate the second half as Jerry Kelly increased his tally to 0-8 (6 frees). He had much support on the scoring stakes as Devaney, McCormack, Kenny, Tomas Ryan, Jack Hogan, Liam Ryan, and Dave O’Connor added further scores. Borris-Ileigh will take on Nenagh Eire Og and Kilruane in their final two group games.

Nenagh Eire Og 1-18 Clonoulty/Rossmore 1-19

Nenagh Eire Og’s second half comeback was beaten by the final whistle following an exciting contest played at MacDonagh Park last Saturday evening.

Clonoulty/Rossmore were the better side in the opening half and led by eight points at half time, 1-12 to 0-7 after playing with the strong breeze. Jack Ryan was Clonoulty’s goal-scorer after 27 minutes.

But Nenagh stormed back in the second half and a goal by Killian Malone midway through brought the home side to within two points. The goal led to a close, hard fought last fifteen minutes and two points from sub Cian O'Farrell plus two from Adam Healy and one from Daire Quinn in the final quarter wasn't enough and Clonoulty held on to win by a point. Michael Heffernan (three) plus Tommy Heffernan and Conor Hennessey were the other point scorers.

Nenagh face JK Brackens and Borris-Ileigh in their final two games and double victories are vital if they are to stay in Division 1.

Drom & Inch 0-24 Loughmore/Castleiney 1-20

Jamie Bergin’s injury time point helped maintain Drom & Inch’s one hundred percent record when they beat Loughmore/Castleiney at The Ragg on Good Friday.

The home side led 0-13 to 0-10 at half time but Loughmore came back level before Ciaran Connolly got an excellent goal to move the county champions in front, but Drom clawed their way back to win in added time.

Shane Hassett was the man of the match with a massive 0-14 return, including ten points from placed balls. Jack Lillis scored three points from play. Loughmore’s top scorer was Ciaran McCormack with nine points, with all bar two from frees. Ciaran Connolly scored 1-1.

Drom & Inch have Mullinahone and Toomevara to face them in the remaining games. Meanwhile, Loughmore’s stay in division 1 looks in danger. Three games and three defeats is their lot so far. They have Toomevara and Upperchurch to play.

Toomevara 2-13 Kiladangan 0-17

Goals in either half helped Toomevara secure valuable league points and a nice home win over their rivals Kiladangan on Good Friday.

Toome trailed 0-10 to 1-6 at half time. David Nolan was the goalscorer. Kevin McCarthy was their second goal scorer in the second half to give The Greyhounds second position in the league table on four points.

The third group game between Upperchurch and Mullinahone will be played next Sunday.

DIVISION 2

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-15 Templederry Kenyons 3-18

First half goals by Eanna Murray, Adrian Ryan and Sean Ryan were the foundation for an impressive away win for Templederry over Gortnahoe/Glengoole.

Templederry led 3-9 to 0-7 at half time but encouraged by a Dara Maher goal five minutes into the second half, Gortnahoe began a fight back but with Sean Ryan, Eanna Murray and Odhran Murphy on song the Seamus O Riain champions kept well clear of any danger to their lead.

Templederry share second place on four points alongside Cashel who defeated Holycross 0-26 to 1-19 while Roscrea kept up their one hundred percent return with a 2-25 to 1-15 win away over Carrick Swans.

Elsewhere, Portroe were demolished 4-30 to 1-9 at home by Moycarkey/Borris, Eire Og Annacarty edged out Clonakenny and Killenaule held off South rivals St Mary’s.

DIVISION 2

Ballina 3-12 Newport 1-13

Ballina came from behind to salvage a valuable two points against neighbours Newport following their third-round encounter on Ballina on Good Friday.

The blues were 1-5 to nil down after ten minutes. However, they recovered well and with the help of an Eoin Slattery goal in the 25th minute they were back in the game at half time two points in arrears 1-8 to 1-6. Colin Floyd was Newport’s goal-scorer.

The pendulum continued to swing Ballina’s way in the second half as they scored 2-6 in with Mathew Power and Donie Whelan supplying the goals.

This latest victory means Ballina are unbeaten on five points and in first position, one ahead of Sean Treacys and Moyne Templetuohy.

Ballinahinch 1-19 Moyne-Templetuohy 1-21

Ballinahinch’s second half comeback came up short in their attempt to win their second game when Moyne Templetuohy secured a two-point win in Shallee on Saturday.

Facing a stiff breeze in the first half Ballinahinch were eleven points in arrears at half time, 0-17 to 0-6.

Their second half recovery was halted by a Gearoid O’Connor goal in the 41st minute a timely score for the Tipp panellist. But, undeterred, the Northmen continued to cut the margin as Karl Kelly (5 frees) and Davy Gleeson shared the free taking duties with the later taking his total to 1-10 (0-6 frees) with his goal arriving in the 59th minute but it was too little too late.

Ballinahinch have to take on both Ballina and Newport in their remaining games.

Meanwhile Sean Treacys won their second game of the campaign with a 2-23 to 1-13 win over Knockavilla Kickhams at Kilcommon last Saturday. Treacys join Moyne in second place while Knockavilla languish at the bottom on one point.

Lorrha 1-13 Silvermines 0-13

Christopher Fogarty’s goal proved to be the difference as Lorrha recorded their second win of the campaign against Silvermines at Tony Reddin Park on Saturday evening.

The first quarter was well contested with the sides level at six points apiece but with the wind at their backs Lorrha made the decisive burst in the second quarter helped by Fogarty’s goal while Darragh Guinan, Cian Hogan, Neil Houlihan and Denis O’Meara landed good scores from play for a 1-10 to 0-6 half time lead.

Silvermines cut the deficit to two going into the final quarter, but Lorrha dug in with the free-taking of Michael Dolan and Martin Gorman keeping the visitors at arm’s length with Cian Hogan’s second point sealing the win late on.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 0-18 Moneygall 3-12

Moneygall left it late to claim the two points in Kilsheelan on Saturday evening.

The visitors got off to a great start with a well-taken goal by Aodhan Ryan in the fourth minute, following a good passing move that began with a Ciaran Quinlan puckout. Moneygall led 1-4 to 0-5 by the fifteenth minute, but Kilsheelan were on top for much of the second quarter and it was they who led at half time, 0-9 to 1-5.

The home team were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and opened up a four-point lead, before Paddy Fogarty’s goal got Moneygall back into the game. Moneygall soon added four points without reply, including two from Dylan Maher, to lead 2-9 to 0-13 at the three-quarter stage.

However, Kilsheelan replied five of the next six points, as the Moneygall wides tally mounted. Barry Kehoe was particularly influential from play and from frees and helped his team into a 0-18 to 2-10 lead as the clock hit sixty minutes.

Injury time points from Adam Hogan and Jody Troy had Moneygall level again, and there would still be time for one more twist, when after an unfortunate mistake by the Kilsheelan goalkeeper leaving Jody Troy on hand to tap the ball into the net and give his team the win.

DIVISION 4

Shannon Rovers 0-22 Golden Kilfeacle 0-15

Shannon Rovers recorded their second win of the County League thanks to a seven-point victory over Golden-Kilfeacle in Ballingarry last Wednesday night.

Rovers got the scoring underway after five minutes with a Conal Moran free. Moran scored six frees in the opening half as they went seven points clear at half time with Sean Moran, Michael Tierney, Andy Byrne, Michael Slattery, and Derek Horan also on the scoresheet. It wasn’t all one-way traffic as Paddy Heenan produced two great saves to keep Golden at bay.

The second half started with a Conal Moran free who also added a great point from a line ball before adding four pointed frees with Rovers scoring eight second half points while Derek Horan and Paul Burke were also on target. Golden scored six from play and two more from frees in the second half.

With four points out of a possible six, Rovers must win their final two games against Cappawhite and Boherlahan if they are to reach the knockout stages.

Cappawhite 1-21 Borrisokane 2-22

Borrisokane remain unbeaten following their away win over Cappawhite last Saturday.

The visitors trailed 0-12 to 0-10 at half time but two Jack Larkin goals turned the tide in their favour. They face Galtee Rovers and Golden Kilfeacle in their final two games and should make the top two.

Skeheenarinky won their third league game thanks to a 1-18 to 0-11 win over fellow Southsiders’ Carrick Davins last Saturday. Three teams remain in the hunt for the two knockout places as Arravale Rovers and Moyle Rovers won their games with Arravale beating Ballingarry 2-18 to 2-13 and Moyle Rovers trouncing Ballybacon/Grange 4-13 to 0-9.

DIVISION 6

Knockshegowna 0-14 Killea 2-11

Knockshegowna went down to Killea in their last league game in Ballingarry last Thursday.

The team got off to a poor start and were seven points down at half time. It was a much-improved performance in the second half, however Killea held out for the win. Despite the setback Knockshe qualified for the semi-finals as group runners-up.