County Hurling League Review
By Liam Hogan
DIVISION 1
Drom & Inch 3-18 Kiladangan 1-19
Drom & Inch defeated group 1 table-toppers Kiladangan with an impressive win at The Ragg on Saturday.
Bright sunshine saw the home side replace the North champions as group leaders on five points with a display that saw them deservedly in front by ten points only to see Kiladangan produce a late comeback but there was no doubt about the outcome.
Kiladangan lined out short a number of regulars like Tadgh & Joe Gallagher, Bryan McLoughney, and Sean Hayes. Both Tadgh Gallagher and Sean Hayes came on during the game.
It was an even first fifteen minutes before two goals in close proximity set Drom on the road to victory. Kiladangan led 0-5 to 0-4 after Billy Seymour pointed a 65 in the 15th minute. The response from Drom was swift and decisive as Brian Moore rounded his opponent to score a goal. Billy Seymour replied with a free but after a point by a David Collins response, there was further ammunition from Drom with Paudie Kinnane grabbing their second goal. Moore added a point to leave two clear goals between the teams.
However, Kiladangan kept close and with Seymour’s accuracy from frees (0-12, 9f, 2’65) aided by good scores by Paul Flynn, Tadgh Gallagher and Dan O’Meara, the margin was down to four at half time, 2-7 to 0-11.
Conor Byrne’s point left the minimum between the teams but Drom stole a march in the third quarter. Sound defence work by Mark Conroy, Fintan Purcell and Darragh Hoare well in command and after a Purcell point it was a third goal that was really decisive with the impressive Lorcan Campion scoring.
Thanks to John Campion’s free taking (0-6 all frees) Drom stretched the lead to ten by the 47th minute. Kiladangan staged a comeback with Paul Flynn’s goal starting the process. Flynn then had to leave the field with a nasty ear injury as Billy Seymour added four more points while Mike Fitzpatrick and John Campion responded in the midst of a long, drawn-out scuffle which saw peace restored and full league points on the way to the mid side.
Thurles Sarsfields 4-22 Toomevara 0-20
Thurles Sarsfields moved up to joint second place in group 2 with Kilruane MacDonaghs on four points, behind group leaders Cashel King Cormacs after a convincing win over Toomevara at St Patrick’s College on Saturday.
Toome set the pace in the first half and led 0-13 to 0-9 at half time. Tipp senior panellist Kevin McCarthy was doing well on frees while Adam Hall, Jack Ryan, Jake Hackett, and Seamus O’Farrell were doing well.
However, the second half was a different story as goals by Denis Maher (2-1), Aidan McCormack (1-3) and Jack Lanigan 1-0 had Thurles Sarsfields very much in control.
Tommy Maher led the scoring for Sarsfields with 0-9 (5f) as nine players got on the scoresheet. Kevin McCarthy was Toomevara’s top scorer with 0-9 (8f) followed by Adam Hall on 0-3 as Toome had nine scorers on board.
Carrig Swan defeated Gortnahoe/Glengoole 0-17 to 1-13 at Pairc na h’Ealai, Carrick-on-Suir last Saturday to bring them up to third place in group 3 alongside Roscrea.
Lower Divisions
In Division 4, goals by Tim Flaherty and Colm Canning helped Toomevara to a 2-15 to 0-17 win over Clonoulty/Rossmore in Toomevara last Wednesday. The win means Toomevara are now top the group with full points after three games. Moyle Rovers and Holycross Ballycahill are joint second on four points.
In Division 5, Ballinahinch defeated Moycarkey/Borris 1-13 to 0-8 at Shallee last Wednesday and they now sit in poll position with five points out of a possible six in group 1. In group 3, Kilruane had no game but lead the race full points out of a possible six.
In Division 6 Knockshegowna will need to win their remaining games if they are to make the knockout stage from group 1. Rosegreen and Clerihan have four points each with Knockshe on three along with Killea.
All to play for.