Moneygall and Borrisokane record first group wins

Moneygall began their County Championship campaign in impressive fashion with a 4-16 to 0-19 victory against Knockavilla Kickhams in Templemore on Sunday.

The final scoreline does not reflect the closeness of the encounter throughout, as Knockavilla had the better of the early exchanges and led 0-12 to 1-8 at half time. Willie Greene had scored an important goal for Moneygall in the 18th minute, at a time when they trailed by 0-7 to 0-3.

Knockavilla had the first two scores of the second half to stretch their lead, but Paddy Fogarty struck for his first goal four minutes in to level the match again. It was nip and tuck from there to the finish, until goals in the dying minutes from Cathal Hogan and Fogarty again sealed the win.

Moneygall will now play Shannon Rovers in the last match of this three-team group 6 to decide which two teams advance to the knockout stages.

 

Borrisokane have well and truly put their opening round loss to Drom & Inch behind them and won their fourth championship match in a row on Sunday with a 4-14 to 1-15 win over Arravale Rovers in Templemore.

Since the loss in April, Borrisokane defeated Kiladangan, Moneygall and Ballinahinch on route to the North final and last Sunday took a step towards direct passage for the knockout stages from the group.

Two goals in the first fifteen minutes from Philip Austin set them on their way and a third from Michael Heenan following a goalkeeping mistake helped Borris into a 3-8 to 0-9 half time lead.

An early second half goal from Shane Dooley rubber-stamped the win for the North champions who were able to empty the bench in the final quarter.

Drom & Inch have already won the group while Borrisokane and Galtee Rovers meet in round 3 to decide who finishes second. Arravale Rovers are destined for the relegation playoffs.

 

Kiladangan are potentially facing a relegation playoff after suffered their second successive defeat, an agonizing one at that as they fell to Kilsheelan/Kilcash by one point in Golden on Sunday.

The first half was a tit for tat affair with both sides trading points throughout with Kiladangan going into half time leading by the smallest of margins 0-10 to 0-9. Kilsheelan took the upperhand early in the second half, scoring five unanswered points to gain a 0-10 to 0-14 advantage. A Gearoid Connors goal 1on 40 minutes brought Kiladangan back into contention. Again, Kilsheelan stretched their lad, this time to five points but a Tommy Connors goal with three minutes left with follow up points from Stephen James Gleeson and Eoghan Sharkey gave Kiladangan the lead in injury time.

Kilsheelan responded with a point to bring the game to a draw. With the last play of the game, a controversial free was awarded to Kilsheelan with their impressive midfielder Martin Gibbs stepping up to convert to win the game.

Gibbs along with Tipp under 21 forward Mark Kehoe were very impressive for Kilsheelan whilst Hughie Flannery, Tommy Connors, Darren Ryan, Stephen James Gleeson and Eoin Gleeson impressed for Kiladangan.

Kiladangan face Ballybacon/Grange in the final round and if they get a win they will avoid the relegation playoff, while a win coupled with a Golden Kilfeacle win over Kilsheelan would see Kiladangan reach the knockout stages so all is to play for still.

 

Elsewhere in the championship, Moyne-Templetuohy, Thurles Sarsfields and Sean Treacys all confirmed their places in the knockout stages.

In group 1, Moyne-Templetuohy had 14 points to spare over Lattin Cullen Gaels with the West side now facing Ballinahinch in the final round where the winner goes into the knockout stages and loser heads for the relegation playoffs.

In group 2, despite losing a number of players to their senior team, Thurles Sarsfields were still hugely impressive in disposing of Carrick Davins in New Inn by 15 points. They are through but don’t have top spot secured yet as they face Cashel King Cormacs in the final game where the West side need just a point to confirm their progress. The Cappawhite v Carrick Davins game looks like a relegation playoff decider.

In Group 4, Sean Treacys made it two wins from two with a narrow win over 2017 runners-up Gortnahoe/Glengoole. In the three team group, Gortnahoe and Moyle Rovers meet in round 3 with quarter final and relegation playoff berths to be determined.