Way set fair for knockout stages in Club Hurling
Tipperary Senior Hurling round-up
By Shane Brophy
Defending champions Borris-Ileigh safely progressed to the quarter finals of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship after seeing off Upperchurch/Drombane at Semple Stadium on Sunday evening.
Level at half time, Borris took control after the break helped by a Niall Kenny goal and nine points from Kevin Maher to run out 1-20 to 2-10 winners over Upperchurch whose goals came from Jack Butler and a late Pat Shortt free.
Toomevara were looking at relegation at half time in their game with Burgess as they trailed by four points but turned things around in the second half with the help of goals from Joey McLoughney, Paul & Alan Ryan and a penalty save from Robert Delaney to record a 3-19 to 2-15 win and progress to the last eight.
Clonoulty/Rossmore maintained their unbeaten record going into the knockout stages but they needed a 63rd minute equalising point from Enda Heffernan to secure a 2-17 to 1-20 draw with Holycross/Ballycahill.
An Aidan Stakelum goal midway through the second half put Holycross into a five-point lead but a Thomas Butler goal instigated a late Clonoulty revival.
The draw wasn’t enough for Holycross as Nenagh Eire Og finished runners-up from the group after a 2-20 to 1-14 win over Eire Og Annacarty. The sides were deadlocked 1-9 apiece at half time with an early Jake Morris goal cancelled out by a Daragh Mooney penalty for Annacarty. There was just two points between the sides going into the last five minutes when Adam Carey conjured up the decisive score for Nenagh.
Three first half goals inspired Kiladangan to a top seeding for the quarter finals following a 4-15 to 0-18 win over Drom & Inch, who also progress to the last eight. Two goals from Paul Flynn and another from Billy Seymour put Kiladangan in complete control before Dan O’Meara added a fourth in the second half to round off an impressive win.
JK Brackens maintained their top tier status after a last gasp equaliser from Lyndon Fairbrother saw them draw 2-17 to 1-20 with Roscrea who go into the relegation series.
Thurles Sarsfields go into the quarter finals with the only one hundred percent record after they had nine points (1-25 to 0-19) to spare over Moycarkey/Borris with Aidan McCormack to the fore with twelve points.
Loughmore/Castleiney won the do or die clash with Kilruane MacDonaghs who exit the championship following a 2-14 to 2-12 win at Semple Stadium with Evan Sweeney’s 2-3 decisive for the Mid Tipp men.
The quarter final and relegation semi-final draws will be made on Monday night.
Senior Hurling – Dan Breen Cup Quarter Finals
Top seeds: Kiladangan, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Thurles Sarsfields, Borris-Ileigh
2nd seeds: Drom & Inch, Nenagh Eire Og, Loughmore/Castleiney, Toomevara
Relegation: Roscrea, Eire Og Annacarty, Moycarkey/Borris, Burgess
Senior Hurling – O Riain Cup Quarter Finals
Top seeds: Carrick Swan, Thurles Sarsfields, Newport, Templederry Kenyons
2nd seeds: Killenaule, Lorrha, Mullinahone, Silvermines
Relegation: Ballingarry, Kiladangan, Sean Treacys, St Mary’s
Intermediate Hurling Quarter Finals
Top seeds: Moyne-Templetuohy; Borrisokane, Ballybacon/Grange, Gortnahoe/Glengoole
Second seeds: Ballinahinch, Knockavilla Kickhams, Boherlahan-Dualla, Moneygall
Relegation: Moyle Rovers, Galtee Rovers, Cappawhite, Kilsheelan/Kilcash or Golden Kilfeacle