Lorrha and Moneygall off to winning starts

By Liam Hogan

GROUP 1

Moneygall 1-14 Ballingarry 1-12

Sean Kenneally’s injury time goal from a penalty helped Moneygall earn a precious two point over Ballingarry in Templetuohy on Sunday.

The goal was timely as a minute earlier, Ballingarry had just taken the lead with James Burns finding the net which propelled Southerners in front. It looked like completing a great comeback by Ballingarry despite not helped by losing both Stephen O’Donovan and Adrian Cleere to red cards.

In the first half, Brendan Tuohy’s point in the thirteenth minute had moved wind assisted Moneygall 0-5 to 0-1 in front. Ballingarry lost the influential Dylan Walsh through injury, but two Conor Vaughan scores had the margin back to two, but the second quarter belonged to Moneygall who outscored the opposition 0-7 to 0-1 with Philip fanning dominating the scoreboard with frees.

At 0-12 to 0-4 in front at half time, Moneygall must have felt home and hosed but with Conor Vaughan on target from frees and play, the lead was whittled down to three by the 49th minute. With extra hands on deck, Moneygall held their nerve as Tipp under 20-star Sean Kenneally who had returned to the action after missing the North semi-final defeat to Lorrha, was a steady hand with his free in the 56th minute helping Moneygall to a 0-14 to 0-10 lead.

However, points from Philip Ivors and Conor Vaughan (free) left two between the teams before both sides finished with a goal each with Kenneally’s proving the match winner.

It’s winner versus winner in round two and Moneygall will take on Cappawhite who defeated Ballybacon/Grange 3-12 to 0-18 in the other Group 1 game.

GROUP 2

Skeheenarinky 1-23 Borrisokane 2-15

Borrisokane lost to 2021 Junior champions Skeheenarinky whose magnificent start laid the foundation for a surprise win in Boherlahan last Sunday.

Playing with the strong breeze in the opening half, Skeheenarinky raced into a four-point lead with Tommy Sweeney, Dean Finn, Tomas Vaughan, and Glenn Walsh scoring before Garry Ryan replied in the sixth minute. But by the thirteenth minute the margin had stretched to eight, 0-9 to 0-1, and Borrisokane had much to do.

With Conor Ryan a non-starter, Borrisokane’s absentee list became longer as Shane Nevin, Roan Murphy and Jack Larkin didn’t line out although Nevin came on a substitute in the final ten minutes.

Meanwhile, in the fourteenth minute, Gary Ryan scored a goal and after points from Oisin Larkin and Eanna Dooley the Division 4 League winners (who defeated Skeheenarinky in the semi-final) were just three in arrears, 0-9 to 1-3, after nineteen minutes.

As Conor Sweeney scored, Borris received a second lifeline when Mike Heenan’s point was quickly followed by a Mike Kelly goal leaving the half time scoreline at 0-14 to 2-6.

Both sides traded points after the restart before Darragh Brennan fired home Skeheenarinky’s only goal in the 38th minute. The sides added four points each before Liam Cleary’s point left his side two in arrears with three minutes remaining.

However, Skeheenarinky had the final say and late scores by Dean Finn and Tommy Sweeney ensured the spoils were heading south. Tomas Vaughan was the winner’s top scorer on 0-9 while Conor Sweeney scored 0-3. Oisin Larkin topped the poll for Borris with 0-7 (6 frees) while Garry Ryan scored 1-3.

Knockavilla Kickhams 2-20 Ballinahinch 2-16

A spirited second half by Ballinahinch was not enough to save the day as Knockavilla Kickhams provded a bridge too far when the sides met in Kilcommon on Saturday.

The West champions settled first and put huge pressure on the Ballinahinch goal and in the opening period the North men conceded 1-5, Conor Horgan nabbing the Knockavilla goal in the ninth minute. Thanks to scores by Davy Gleeson and Ger Grace, Ballinahinch recovered but were outscored by two points to see the new West champions take a 1-14 to 0-8 half time lead.

Ballinahinch came out stronger in the second half but couldn’t make the chances count and were punished for it when Pa Ryan finished to the net in the 48th minute allowing Kickhams push their lead out to eleven points.

However, Ballinahinch displayed plenty spirit and a goal by Ger Grace in the 52nd minute followed by a succession of points mainly through Davy Gleeson saw them cut the deficit to five.

Kickhams responded with two points, but Brendan Ryan replied with a consolation goal deep into injury time followed by two more points to see them trail by four in the end.

In round 2, Borrisokane and Ballinahinch square off while Knockavilla Kickhams play Skeheenarinky

GROUP 3

Shannon Rovers 0-17 Kilsheelan/Kilcash 2-11

Shannon Rovers defied the underdogs tag with a spirited performance against championship favourites Kilsheelan/Kilcash following the sides hard fought encounter in Templetuohy on Saturday.

Shannon Rovers started brightly and lead by three points early on and a good save by goalkeeper Tadhg Lonergan prevented them from extending their advantage. Kilsheelan slowly got into the game and opportunistic goal by Jamie Roche saw them take the lead.

With Bill Maher an absentee, Kilsheelan suffered another blow when losing county player Mark Kehoe to injury after twenty minutes. The remainder of the half was a scrappy affair with both teams finding scores hard to come by. Kilsheelan led at the break 1-5 to 0-6

Shannon Rovers started the second half well scoring five unanswered points from the experienced George Hannigan, the impressive Andrew Byrne (0-4) and Conal Moran (0-4, 1 free) which moved them four in front with ten minutes remaining.

Kilsheelan responded with some great points by Barry Kehoe (0-4) and Paul Maher and a goal by substitute Billy Murphy to put them ahead by one point, three minutes remaining before Shannon Rovers equalized from a great long-range effort by Conal Moran.

Shannon Rovers will play Drom & Inch in the second round. Arravale Rovers, who lost to Drom Inch 0-20 to 1-14, will take on Kilsheelan.

GROUP 4

Lorrha 3-23 Carrick Davins 1-14

Lorrha made light work of Carrick Davins to start their County Intermediate Hurling Championship campaign with a comfortable win in Templemore on Saturday.

The new North champions showed no hangover from the divisional success a week previous as they hit the ground with Colm Fogarty in particular in hot form scoring 3-3, with all three goals coming in the first half. The first came on five minutes after being played in unselfishly by Patrick Maher. He added his second on nine minutes as he flicked Brian Hogan’s dipping free into the net, before completing his hat-trick on seventeen minutes by finding the top corner of the net. At that stage, Lorrha led 3-5 to 0-1 and the game was over as a contest. Lorrha eased back after that but added another six points before the break to lead 3-11 to 0-5 at half time.

Carrick Davins won the second half 1-9 to 0-11 as Lorrha completely eased off the gears and left a couple of more goals behind them, although Eoin McIntyre finished with six points from play while Chris Fogarty, Niall McIntyre and Michael Dolan also impressed. Willie O’Dwyer scored Carrick Davins goal in injury time while Luke Faulkner top scored with nine points for the South men.

In round two, Lorrha will take on Golden-Kilfeacle who defeated Boherlahan-Dualla 0-22 to 1-14 in the other Group 4 game.