County Hurling League Round 2 Review

GAA: FBD Insurance County Hurling Leagues

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Drom & Inch 1-24 J K Brackens 3-17

Drom & Inch earned their first win of the league on Friday night in overcoming a slow start against JK Brackens team still smarting after their heavy first round defeat against Kiladangan.

Paraic O’Shea’s early goal had Brackens off to a flying start as they led 1-5 to 0-1 after eight minutes. However, things changed fairly rapidly when the homeside made busy work for the umpires when scoring ten unanswered points to lead 0-11 to 1-5 after 21 minutes. Drom led 0-13 to 1-8 at half time with John Campion their lead scorer 0-7 (4 frees).

Little separated the teams in the second half and while John Campion increased his tally to 0-11 it was down to the green flags to decide the game and there were three of them on view with Shane Doyle and Lyndon Fairbrother grabbing a goal each for Brackens while John Ryan (Matt) grabbing the all important one to seal Drom’s first victory adding a valuable two points to the one they collected when sharing the spoils against Clonoulty/Rossmore in the opening round.

Kiladangan 5-18 Borris-Ileigh 1-12

Just like their first win over JK Brackens, their penchant for scoring goals helped Kiladangan to a decisive win over Borris-Ileigh at Puckaun on Saturday.

Goals by Bryan McLoughney in the 4th & 23rd minutes, along with a goal each by Joe Gallagher in the 20th minute and Darren Moran three minutes later made it 4-8 to 0-7 at half time.

Eddie Ryan was Borris-Ileigh’s top score with 0-7 (2 frees) and when he scored his seventh the margin was down to eleven with eighteen minutes remaining.

However, Kiladangan had twelve scorers on board and after three quick points by Darren Moran, Niall Cahalan and David Sweeney there was a fifth goal when Sean Hayes sent a screamer to the net to put the homeside out of sight.

Nenagh Eire Og 1-12 Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-17

Clonoulty/Rossmore remain unbeaten after two games following their visit to MacDonagh Park on Sunday and pulled off a two point win against a Nenagh Eire Og side who were hoping to claim victory number two after their first round win over Borris-Ileigh in round one.

This game was played in wind and rain but it didn’t deter the respective sharpshooters. Clonoulty/Rossmore were six points to the good before Conor Hennessey had Nenagh’s opening score in the tenth minute.

The West sides pressure helped them take a 0-9 to 0-5 half time lead, which stretched to double scores before James Mackey’s point followed by an Adam Carey goal brought Nenagh back into the contest.

Three unanswered points helped Nenagh take a 1-11 to 0-13 lead with ten minutes remaining. However, Clonoulty posed the better scoring power and they scored two late points to secure a two point win.

Moycarkey/Borris 1-23 Toomevara 1-14

A stronger Moycarkey/Borris side had too much in the tank for a disappointing Toomevara side on Friday evening in Littleton.

The home side led 0-11 to 0-6 at half time and they continued to keep Toomevara out of arms reach with Conor O’Farrell scoring a consolation goal late on.

Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-20 Cashel King Cormacs 1-20

Kilruane MacDonaghs fell to a home defeat to Cashel King Cormacs on Sunday.

Despite a great start which saw Kilruane MacDonaghs take a 0-10 to 0-5 lead after nineteen minutes, it was Cashel who took over in the final ten minutes of the opening half to take a 0-13 to 0-11 lead at the break.

Little separated the teams in the early stages of the second half until the 48th minute when Brian O’Donoghue scored the game’s only goal after receiving a pin-point pass from Cathal Quinn. The goal proved to be the difference as Kilruane, who had Michael Cleary top scorer 0-8 (3 from play), were unable to quell the deficit. Devon Ryan was Cashel’s top scorer with 0-10 (6 frees).

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-12 Loughmore/Castleiney 2-19

Loughmore/Castleiney came good in the second half as they pulled off a surprisingly big win over Gortnahoe/Glengoole at Gortnahoe last Saturday.

Gortnahoe played with the breeze in the first half and held an 0-8 to 0-5 lead at half time. Loughmore came good in the third quarter as they scored 1-7 unanswered to take control of the game. Ciaran McCormack was the goal-scorer. Gortnahoe answered with a goal, however, the comeback by the homeside was curtailed as a late goal by Philip O’Connell ensured victory for Loughmore.

Upperchurch/Drombane 0-20 CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 2-12

Upperchurch/Drombane made it two wins from two with a narrow victory over Mullinahone in Drombane on Sundat.

The home side led by four points at half time but two second half Mullinahone goals from Dylan Hennessy and Micheal Dunne saw the game level going into injury time. Upperchurch secured the victory with two late frees from Gavin Ryan and Luke Shanahan.

Elsewhere, Carrick Swan and Roscrea shared the spoils in Carrick-on-Suir.

DIVISION 2

Boherlahan/Dualla 0-14 Lorrha 0-8

Boherlahan-Dualla led from start to finish in this low-scoring battle with Lorrha in wet and cold conditions on Sunday.

The teams were well-matched in the opening half, Boherlahan going in at half-time with a one-point lead (0-6 to 0-5), Tipp U20 Charlie Ryan impressing with two points from play. Lorrha stayed in the hunt with five hard fought points, including three from brothers Eoin & Niall McIntyre.

Scores were particularly hard to come by in the third quarter, and only a goal separated the sides with ten minutes to go before the home side finished with four of the last five points.

Burgess 3-14 St Mary’s 0-16

Three first half goals, including two in quick succession, ten minutes before half time helped pave the way for Burgess to win their second game in the league over St Mary’s in Kilcolman.

The home sides goals came from Joe O’Dwyer, David Nealon and Kieran Grace, to lead 3-6 to 0-7 at the break. St. Mary’s reduced the gap to four at one stage in the second half but Burgess held on for a seven point tin.

Killenaule 1-19 Ballina 0-12

A dominant first half helped Killenaule lay the foundation for their win over Ballina in Killenaule last Sunday.

The home side led 0-12 to 0-2 at half time with Michae Doyle and Padraig O’Dwyer to the fore from play. Mark Stakelum put the result beyond doubt with a second half goal. Matthew Power was Ballina’s top scorer with eight points from frees with Enda Tormey scoring two from play.

Moneygall 1-15 Eire Og Annacarty/D 2-16

Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill had to come from behind to collect their second win in defeating Moneygall in Moneygall last Saturday.

The home side began well with 1-1 in the opening minutes with Tadhg Whyte scoring the goal. The game was ten minutes old before Aidan Griffin had Annacarty’s opener, the first of eleven placed balls by the sharpshooter. Darragh Kelly added points also before he was involved in Annacarty’s first goal when he put Donal O’Dwyer through in the 23rd minute.

O’Dwyer had the chance of a second just before half time but the Moneygall goalkeeper pulled off a great save and the half time score read Annacarty 1-10 Moneygall 1-9.

Moneygall started brightly in the second half out-scoring the visitors 0-4 to 0-1 in drawing level at 1-13 each after 45 minutes. Both defences were on top but with full time approaching and scores level 1-15 each, Annacarty scored 1-1, the goal coming from Lewie Cavanagh on his debut.

Elsewhere, Templederry Kenyons fell to a home defeat to Thurles Sarsfields while Clonakenny accounted for Moyne-Templetuohy.

DIVISION 3

Ballingarry 0-16 Golden Kilfeacle 0-22

The good times continue for Golden Kilfeacle as they came away from Ballingarry on Sunday with a six point win to claim their second victory of the league.

The winners led 0-13 to 0-8 at half time. Wind assisted Ballingarry fought back in the third quarter and managed to cut the deficit to two with eleven minutes remaining. Ben Currivan was the master of the dead-ball 0-13 (11 frees) and his thirteenth point set Kilfeacle three clear and on the road to victory.

Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-9 Cappawhite 1-15

Cappawhite made it two wins out of two when they travelled to Kilsheelan and beat the home side by four points in an entertaining game on Sunday.

Kilsheelan played with the wind in the first half and made the perfect start scoring 1-1 without reply. Both sides exchanged scores until the 20th minute when Cian O’Carroll’s goal had the margin cut to two points. It was 1-7 each at half time.

Despite playing with the breeze in the second half it took Cappawhite ten minutes before they scored again but that statistic changed when they scored five unanswered points which paved the way for a four point win.

Arravale Rovers 2-19 Sean Treacys 5-18

Sean Treacys made it two wins out of two when defeating Arravale Rovers in Tipperary Town on Saturday.

The winners led 3-6 to 1-8 at half time with Cillian Kennedy (2) and Larry Collins getting the goals. Collins doubled his goal account before James Butler secured the fifth to help claim a seven point win.

Shannon Rovers 2-13 Knockavilla-D Kickhams 2-14

Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams came from behind to secure a one point win over Shannon Rovers in Ballinderry Sportsfield on Sunday.

The winners played with the breeze in the first half and were comfortable leaders at the break with the help of two goals by Ben Ryan and Michael Gleeson which made it a 2-11 to 0-9.

Seconds before half time Matt Tierney was unlucky to hit the butt of the post from close range but Eamon Hough made amends with a goal in the 36th minute.

A second goal by Austin Tierney in the 44th minute made it 2-11 each. Aaron Hogan’s accuracy from frees was vital (8 frees, 1’65) as he made it 2-12 to 2-11. The equally accurate David Butler 0-5 (3 frees) levelled with a free before Hogan moved Rovers in front for the second time. A 65 by Jack Breen levelled matters before he grabbed the winner from a free.

Elsewhere, Newport secured their first win when they defeated Borrisokane 0-15 to 1-10 at Lacken Park on Sunday.

DIVISION 6

Knockshegowna 3-13 Clerihan 2-9

Knockshegowna scored a big win over Clerihan at Ballingarry on Sunday.

First half goals by Paul Lake and Anthony Whelan had them 2-4 to 0-8 in front by half time. Playing with the wind in the second half, Knockshe dominated and a second Lake goal had them well clear before Clerihan scored two late consolation goals.