County Hurling League Round 2 Review

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Toomevara 2-9 Kiladangan 1-13

Kiladangan overturned a seven-point deficit to defeat Toomevara at St Michael’s Park on Sunday.

The visitors made the best start when Shane Gleeson who scored to made it 0-3 to 0-1 after five minutes. Then it was the turn of Toomevara to take charge as Jack Delaney scored a goal for an unanswered 1-2 and was the difference as Toomevara led 1-6 to 0-6 at half time.

The game settled down in the second half and Toome took advantage with Delaney scoring his second goal to move his side 2-8 to 0-7 in front after 36 minutes. However, the fourth quarter belonged to Kiladangan as they rattled off 1-4, with the goal coming from a Shane Gleeson penalty in the 48th minute. Mark McCarthy (0-7, 6f) replied for what was his team’s last score before Kiladangan regained ground to see two Shane Gleeson frees plus the match winner by Tadhg Gallagher.

Clonoulty/Rossmore 2-19 Thurles Sarsfield 2-13

Cathal Bourke scored 0-13 (8 frees) as Clonoulty/Rossmore made it two wins out of two when defeating Thurles Sarsfields in Clonoulty last Sunday.

The home side led 1-10 to 1-6 at half time with their goal from Robert Doyle coming in the eighth minute. Tommy Doyle got the Sarsfield goal in the 24th minute. A 38th minute penalty goal by Stephen Ferncombe meant Clonoulty could stay in front, but Sarsfields responded in the shape of a Jack Lanigan goal, but it was too little too late as Clonoulty took first place in the table with Sarsfields still looking for their first win. Jack Lanigan scored 1-10 (0-9f) for Sarsfields.

JK Brackens 1-15 Moycarkey/Borris 0-14

JK Brackens recovered from their first round defeat to Kilruane to secure a four-point win over Moycarkey/Borris in Templemore on Saturday.

The home side led from start to finish with Shane Doyle their top-scorer with 1-8, with his goal from a free after two minutes. Their lead fluctuated and by half time they led 1-7 to 0-7.

Ciaran O’Shea’s point in the 38th minute increased their lead to four, but they were unable to shake off Moycarkey who cut the deficit to one before Brackens, helped by Doyle’s accuracy held on to win by four.

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-17 Mullinahone 0-20

Kilruane needed three late points to claim a share of the points with Mullinahone following an exciting second round contest in Cloughjordan on Sunday.

Mullinahone played with the breeze in the first half and dominated the opening quarter to lead 0-10 to 0-6 after 25 minutes. Their lead was cut to a point by half time, 0-11 to 1-7, with the Kilruane goal coming from Willie Cleary after a Cian Darcy assist.

Kilruane stayed in touch throughout the second half, but Mullinahone looked home and hosed as they held a three point lead deep into injury time before points by Cian Darcy (free), Kieran Cahill and Niall O’Meara salvaged a draw.

Borris-Ileigh 1-19 Holycross/Ballycahill 1-17

Eddie Ryan scored 1-7 (0-6f) as Borris-Ileigh secured their first win of the league with a two point win over Holycross-Ballycahill in Borrisoleigh on Sunday.

The home side led 0-12 to 0-8 at half time. Scores from JD Devaney and Kevin Maher plus Eddie Ryan’s goal moved them well in charge as they led 1-16 to 0-10. However, Holycross clawed their way back as they cut the deficit to one. Both sides traded points continued to trade points in the closing stages, but Borris-Ileigh held out.

Upperchurch/Drombane 0-30 Templederry Kenyons 0-9

Upperchurch/Drombane made it two wins out of two with a facile win over Templederry Kenyons at Drombane on Saturday.

The home side were fast out of the blocks and the points came fast and furious with three each from Gavin, Aaron & Sean Ryan plus six (4 frees) from Paul Ryan, with Dean Carew (2) also on target to lead 0-20 to 0-3 at half time. Templederry made some adjustments after the break, but Upperchurch never panicked with Diarmuid Grant scoring four points.

Lorrha 3-11 Loughmore/Castleiney 0-15

Lorrha made it two wins from two in group 3 with a determined victory over Loughmore/Castleiney at Tony Reddin Park on Saturday evening.

The home side were wasteful in the early going with the elements at their back but still managed to pick off good scores from Chris Fogarty, Donnacha O’Meara and Alan O’Meara. A David Fogarty goal on nine minutes edged them in front as Loughmore were efficient at the other end with Ed Connolly to the fore from play and Liam McGrath from frees as they trailed 1-7 to 0-7 at half time.

Lorrha managed to quel any Loughmore revival and a Martin Gorman goal in the 42nd minute from a Donnacha O’Meara pass gave them breathing room. O’Meara was to the fore again seven minutes later as his pass cut the Loughmore defence open for Chris Fogarty to race through for a third goal. Loughmore pushed hard for a response with Ciaran McCormack narrowly wide with their best goal chance late on.

DIVISION 2

Cashel King Cormacs opened their County League campaign with a well-earned 2-21 to 2-10 victory over Carrick Swan at Pairc na nEalaí on Sunday.

Playing against the breeze in the first half Cashel trailed 1-8 to 0-10 at half time. After the changeover Cashel got their first goal when a Paddy Fahy pass put Devon Ryan in space and the latter found the bottom of the net. However, Swans replied with a goal, but Cashel upped their game and consolidated their win with the help of a David McGrath goal.

Elsewhere in group 1, St. Mary’s made it two wins when they defeated Eire Og Annacarty in Clonmel on Sunday while Silvermines suffered their second defeat when losing 1-17 to 1-14 to Gortnahoe/Glengoole in Gortnahoe.

In group 2, Ballina easily beat neighbours Newport 0-23 to 0-12 who suffered their second defeat in the campaign in Ballina on Sunday.

DIVISION 3

Joe Fogarty scored 1-9 as Moneygall made it two wins out of two as they defeated Borrisokane 1-14 to 1-13 at Gardiner Park on Sunday.

Fogarty scored three points in the first half as Moneygall played with the breeze and picked off several good scores, whereas Borris’ depended mainly on frees from Conor Ryan and Bryan Davis. Davis was the Borrisokane goal-scorer from a penalty shortly before half-time as his side trailed 0-10 to 1-6 at the interval.

Borrisokane drew level shortly after the break as both sides went nip and tuck throughout the second half before Joe Fogarty got Moneygall’s goal mid-way through. Both sides raced to the finishing line with Fogarty and Conor Ryan matching each other on frees. Borris had one last chance to level, but Moneygall keeper Ciaran Quinlan was alert as he caught the ball under the crossbar.

Both Golden Kilfeacle and Drom & Inch remain unbeaten in group 1 on three points after their respective wins over Knockavilla Kickhams and Portroe, respectively.

In group 2, Cappawhite remain unbeaten when they drew 0-15 each with Clonoulty/Rossmore in Clonoulty last Friday night.

Meanwhile Ballingarry were winners in their first outing when defeating Shannon Rovers 1-20 to 1-9 in Ballinderry on Sunday.

DIVISION 4

Michael Ryan’s second half goal was the difference as Carrick Davins won their opening league game against Ballinahinch, 1-14 to 0-15, in Shallee on Saturday.

Scores from placed balls was the dominant feature as Carrick had Luke Faulkner as top scorer with 0-9, seven from frees.

The other game played last week saw Arravale Rovers made it two out of two as they defeated St Patrick’s 1-28 to 2-9 at Drangan on Thursday.