Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Round-2 round-up
Thurles Sarsfields and Drom & Inch became the first two teams into the quarter finals of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship following the second round of group games over the weekend.
On Friday, two goals from Pa Bourke inspired Thurles to an impressive 2-28 to 0-25 win over Loughmore/Castleiney, for whom John McGrath contributed fourteen points. Loughmore will face off against Kilruane in a winner-takes-all game next Sunday after a late Jerome Cahill goal helped MacDonaghs to shake-off Moycarkey/Borris.
Drom & Inch overcame the second minute sending off of Johnny Ryan to defeat JK Brackens 2-16 to 1-15 to secure their quarter final berth. Goals from David Collins (penalty) and super-sub David Butler were the key scores for the victors. Goals from Dan O’Meara and Bryan McLoughney helped last years defeated finalists Kiladangan to an impressive 2-19 to 0-14 win over Roscrea to get within touching distance of the last eight and require just a point from their final game with Drom to progress.
Defending champions Borris-Ileigh moved to the top of their group with a comprehensive 3-23 to 1-14 win over Burgess with James Devaney grabbing two of the goals with Brendan Maher adding the other from a penalty. However, they remain in a battle to make the quarter finals as they are tied on three points with Upperchurch/Drombane who played out an exciting 3-17 to 1-13 draw with Toomevara, who sit just a point behind but whose final game is against winless Burgess.
Clonoulty/Rossmore were hugely impressive as they took command of their group with a 1-22 to 1-16 win over Nenagh Eire Og. A dominant second quarter which included a Conor Hammersley goal helped the 2018 winners into a commanding position to help withstand a late Nenagh revival which included a Jake Morris goal, while Clonoulty keeper Declan O’Dwyer was also in inspired form. Holycross/Ballycahill kept their hopes alive with a 0-23 to 1-18 win over Eire Og Annacarty with county man Cathal Barrett to the fore for the victors.
In the O Riain Cup, Newport and Thurles Sarsfields have progressed to the quarter finals while Groups 1 & 4 have all four teams tied on one win each going into the final round.
Full reports of all games in this weeks Nenagh Guardian out Wednesday