Moneygall and Borrisokane reach knockout stages
GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Review
By Liam Hogan
GROUP 1
Drom & Inch 1-21 Ballinahinch 2-15
Ballinahinch’s hopes of reaching the last eight appear to be very much in doubt following their three point defeat to Drom & Inch at Templederry last Saturday.
Coming after their win over Moyle Rovers, this defeat leaves them with two points and in order to reach the quarter final they must defeat Moyne Templetuohy next weekend. A tall order at any time and this year is no difference as Moyne are unbeaten so far following their two wins over Drom and Moyle Rovers. And while Ballinahinch face Moyne the other game between Drom and Moyle Rovers looks favourably on the mid side as Moyle Rovers don’t appear to have the ammunition to cause an upset against an improved Drom side.
Ballinahinch’s plight was made even worse because they are more than likely to face next weekend’s game without the services of Shane McGrath who broke his toe just seconds before half time.
Ballinahinch opened a three point lead in the early stages but Drom were soon level. The Mid team went 0-10 to 0-7 in front before a David Gleeson penalty levelled matters once more. However Gleeson’s goal was not enough as Drom went from strength to strength as they outscored the Northmen 0-6 to 0-3 to lead 0-16 to 1-10 lead at the interval.
After the changeover Drom continued to dominate the third quarter and thanks to a Jamie Bergin penalty they led 1-18 to 1-11 before Ger Grace replied with a goal to keep Ballinahinch in touch.
Ballinahinch’s cause was not helped when mid-way through the second half they were reduced to fourteen men when Donnacha McGrath was sent to the line following a second yellow card offence. By then Drom should have been out of sight but for a litany of wides curbed their winning margin.
Drom & Inch: Paul Connors; Colm Kinnane, Michael Purcell, Paul Bergin; John Ryan, Enda Walsh, Aidan O’Meara (0-1); Kevin Butler (0-2), Darragh Kennedy; Paul Kennedy (0-1), Shane Hassett (0-3), Joe Lupton; Pat Lupton (0-3), Jamie Bergin (1-10, 1-0pen, 0-7f), Jack Lillis (0-1).
Ballinahinch: Cormac McGrath; Tom Grace, Donnacha McGrath, Cathal Ryan; Kevin Fitzpatrick, Darragh McGrath, Paddy Kelly; Ger Grace, Brian Keane; Karl Kelly, Shane McGrath, Kevin Mulcahy; Davy Gleeson, John Foley, Brendan Ryan.
GROUP 2
Borrisokane 4-22 Galtee Rovers 0-12
It's full points from two games for Borrisokane who easily defeated Galtee Rovers in the second round of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship in Kilcommon last Saturday.
Borrisokane were on the front foot from the first minute as nine players got on the scoresheet with Jack Larkin scoring 1-9. Garry Ryan had Borrisokane’s first goal in the 14th minute and Larkin added a second a minute later which gave Borris a 2-4 to 0-3 lead before the first water break.
The teams had just returned when the third goal arrived from Oisin Larkin as Borrisokane eased into a 13 point lead at half time, 3-10 to 0-6. Colin Morrissey had secured all of Galtee Rovers scores with five frees and a point from play.
Borrisokane hit two early second half points through Liam Cleary and Garry Ryan before Tony O’Brien pointed for Galtee Rovers in the 36th minute. The next six points went Borrisokane’s way before Colin Morrissey converted a Galtee Rovers free.
But Borrisokane were never in any danger and when Garry Ryan claimed his second goal and Borrisokane’s fourth in the 58th minute the icing was on the cake for Borrisokane who are safely through to the quarter finals. Their final game against Knockavilla Kickhams next weekend is a contest for positions one and two.
For Galtee it was a disappointing performance. Their final game against Carrick Davins is a must win in order to avoid a relegation battle.
Borrisokane: Shane Nevin; Eddie O’Dwyer, Brian Davis; Shane Stapleton, Stephen Gavin (0-1), Roan Murphy; Liam Cleary (0-2), Michael Heenan; Philip Austin (0-2), Michael Kelly (0-1), Conor Ryan (0-1); Oisin Larkin (0-1), Garry Ryan (2-3), Jack Larkin (1-9, 0-8f). Subs: Colm Larkin (0-1) for C Ryan (31); Andy Austin for Nevin (42).
Galtee Rovers: Eoin White; Pat Kavanagh, Conor O’Sullivan, Emmet Ryan; Shane Power, Eric Grogan, Peter Carroll; Sean Daly, Adam McGrath (0-1); Tony O’Brien (0-1), Colin Morrissey (0-9, 7f), Jim Quirke; Daire Egan (0-1), Mark O’Brien, Eoghan Brennan. Subs: Damien Bourke for Brennan, Kieran Marnane for M O’Brien, Eoin Pyke for Carroll.
GROUP 3
Cappawhite 0-24 Shannon Rovers 2-11
Shannon Rovers lost their way in the last ten minutes against a more organised Cappawhite in Newport last Sunday.
After a solid first half when scores were level at half time, Rovers were well in contention up to the 44th minute when Andy Byrne’s point left it 0-15 to 1-10. However they suddenly fell apart to a surge of points from all angles and positions and the Reds had no answer to the prowess of Ryan Doody and William Barry as the West men supplied nine names on the scoresheet including half backs David Buckley, Tom Treacy and midfielder Colm O’Dwyer.
Cappawhite led 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening three minutes before Marcus Esmonde beat the Cappawhite goalkeeper Anthony Barry with a goal. Riain Doody levelled but in the fifth minute Anthony Barry again came to his side’s rescue with a splendid save at the expense of a 65 which Rovers top scorer Alan Hogan.
Rovers best hurling came between the 14th and 23rd minutes when they scored four points on the run, with Michael Tierney and Andy Byrne scoring from play along with two Alan Hogan frees. However the final minutes of the half belonged to Cappawhite as Ryan Renehan, plus two long range frees by goalkeeper Anthony Barry and a point from play from Willie Barry saw the west men come level at the changeover, 1-6 to 0-9.
On the restart, two Willie Barry points plus a point from Tom Treacy moved Cappawhite three clear. Both Alan Hannigan and Alan Hogan kept Rovers in touch with a point each. Willie Barry and Marcus Esmonde swapped scores before Pakie and Willie Barry pointed to give Cappawhite a 0-15 to 1-9 lead after 42 minutes.
Andy Byrne narrowed the gap to two but two Willie Barry frees and a Riain Doody score from play enhanced Cappawhite’s grip on the game. Alan Hogan increased his tally to six with a free but four Cappawhite scores between the 54th and 57th minute more or less sealed the day.
Alan Hogan’s goal two minutes from time came much too late before the Rovers lost Derek Horan to a red card. By then thoughts had turned to the final round of games next weekend where both teams will want to win. Rovers take on Ballybacon/Grange while Cappawhite face Boherlahan-Dualla.
Cappawhite: Anthony Barry (0-3f); Noel Ryan, Philip Gantley, John McGrath; David Buckley (0-1), Tom Treacy (0-1), Kevin Stapleton; Colm O’Dwyer (0-1), Gearoid Ryan (B); Rian Doody (0-5), Willie Barry (0-9, 5f), Pakie Barry (0-2); Dara McCarthy (0-1), Ryan Renehan (0-1), Ciaran Ryan (P). Subs used: Ciaran Doody, Tommy Coughlan, Paddy Julian, Ross Dunne.
Shannon Rovers: Vincent Mulvihill; Emmett Moran, George Hannigan, James O’Sullivan; Michael Slattery, Conal Moran, Alan Byrne; Eamonn Hough, Jack O’Sullivan; Matt Tierney (0-1), Alan Hogan (1-6, 0-3f, 0-1’65), Alan Hannigan (0-1); Michael Tierney, Andy Byrne (0-2), Marcus Esmonde 1-1. Subs: John O’Meara for Michael Tierney; Padraic O’Meara for Jack O’Sullivan; Derek Horan for Hough.
GROUP 4
Moneygall 3-16 Kilsheelan/Kilcash
Moneygall followed up their opening round victory over Golden Kilfeacle with a seven point winning margin over Kilsheelan/Kilcash at Holycross on Sunday evening to top their group and ensure a place in the quarter finals.
Victory over Gortnahoe/Glengoole, who were surprisingly held to an 0-17 to 1-14 draw by Golden will decide the group winners and perhaps a more favourable draw.
While the seven point margin might suggest a comfortable win, Moneygall short Willie Greene, Paddy & Sean Fogarty from the previous week, had to work hard against a Kilsheelan/Kilcash side boosted by the return of Bill Maher. They were not helping themselves by the concession of frees which were punished by Martin Gibbs, who contributed 1-11 of his sides total. Golden’s Andy Byrnes hit 1-8 the previous week, so it is an aspect that Moneygall need to address.
Moneygall got an early boost when Ger Kirwan goaled after five minutes, but they struggled to build on it as Kilsheelan began to settle, and were level at 1-5 to 0-8 by the 20th minute. It continued to be close to the interval, as Moneygall turned over 1-9 to 0-10 clear.
The opening quarter of the second half saw Kilsheelan pressing hard, and drawing level by the fourteenth minute, 1-10 to 0-13, Moneygall’s only score of the period coming from a free by Joe Fogarty six minutes in. As the teams halted for the water break, Joe Fogarty again pointed a free to put his side in front.
On the resumption Moneygall surged forward, and the game was transformed with two goals in quick succession, through Ciaran Quinlan and Adam Hogan, that put them 3-12 to 0-13 ahead.
Kilsheelan came back at them, and a goal from a 65 by Martin Gibbs gave them a glimmer of hope, only four points down 3-13 to 1-15. But Moneygall were not to be denied, and finished with a flourish, through points from Joe Fogarty, Brendan Toohey (65) and Ger Kirwan.
Moneygall: Mark Fanning, Liam Carroll, Phil Fanning, Jack Kirwan, Conor Ryan, Brendan Toohey (0-3), Roddy Teehan, Brian Teehan, Eoin Whyte, Joe Fogarty (0-8), Ger Kirwan (1-2), Adam Hogan (1-1), Conor Hogan, Ciaran Quinlan (1-0), Bob Kenny (0-1). Subs: Cathal Kennedy for Ryan, Dylan Maher for J Fogarty (blood)
Kilsheelan/Kilcash: Jamie Roche, Jason Madigan, Conor Davin Murphy, Sean Ryan, Eoin Keogh, Daire Brennan, Billy Murphy, Martin Gibbs (1-11), Billy O’Connor, Bill Maher (0-1), Shane Martin, Mark Kehoe (0-1), Sean Freaney, Paul Maher (0-1), Mark Stokes.