County Hurling League Round-Up

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Moycarkey/Borris 3-12 Borris-Ileigh 1-20

Dan Ryan’s goal in the 54th minute helped Borris-Ileigh over the line against Moycarkey/Borris in Littleton last Wednesday night.

The goal was the first of four in a goal-crazy last ten minutes with Moycarkey scoring three which put a better picture on the scoreboard for the home side.

Borris-Ileigh trailed at half time by a point, 0-8 to 0-7, following a very tight first half. However, the third quarter was much more open and after a few wides Borris began to look a far greater threat and Ryan’s goal had the Maroons 1-17 to 0-12 in front. However, Moycarkey hit back with two goals by Tom Ran (55th minute) and Bill Flanagan three minutes later to make it 1-18 to 2-12.

The scoring didn’t end there and with Jerry Kelly (0-7) pointing a free quickly followed by Dan Ryan point Borris stretched their lead to five before Bill Flanagan grabbed his second goal, but it was too little too late for the Mid men. Conor Kenny scored 0-6 from play for Borris.

Clonoulty/Rossmore 2-15 Upperchurch/Drombane 2-16

Upperchurch/Drombane had to come from behind to overcome hosts Clonoulty/Rossmore to make it two wins out of two in the second round of Division 1 of last Friday evening.

Little separated the sides in the opening twenty minutes before Upperchurch scored 1-2 without replay in the closing minutes with Conor Fahey grabbing the goal in the 29th minute which helped them to a 1-9 to 0-7 half time lead.

Upperchurch continued to keep their distance in the third quarter but a Cathal Bourke goal from a penalty in the 44th minute brought Clonoulty within one point of the leaders 1-12 to 1-11. Burke scored 1-10, including six points from play and his accuracy helped Clonoulty take a 1-15 to 1-14 lead with nine minutes left.

However, Upperchurch regrouped and top scorer Paudie Green 0-7 (4f, 0-1’65) had them level by the 55th minute before Sean Ryan’s point moved them in front and when play entered added time, they consolidated their lead with corner forward Conor Fahey netting his second goal. Stephen Quinn’s 63rd minute goal came too late for Clonoulty.

Drom & Inch 1-21 Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-14

Kilruane MacDonagh, with just five of their county final winning team, suffered their second County League defeat when losing to Drom & Inch at The Ragg on Saturday.

It was Drom’s first outing after their first-round game with Toomevara postponed due to the passing of Johnny Harkin. The home side dominated the first half and led 0-12 to 0-4 at the interval but Kilruane fought back and cut the deficit to five with a quarter of an hour remaining.

However, Drom finished the stronger and David Collins goal in the 53rd minute (he scored 1-3) allied to Johnny Ryan’s accuracy from frees paved the way for victory to the Mid men. Ryan scored 0-10 including eight from frees.

This was a disappointing day for Kilruane who had lost their first game against Thurles Sarsfields and will need to get back to winning ways. Willie Cleary was their top scorer with 0-8 with all bar one from placed balls.

Thurles Sarsfields 2-29 Nenagh Eire Og 2-18

Thurles Sarsfields made it two wins out of two when they defeated Nenagh Eire Og in a high scoring game in Thurles last Sunday afternoon.

Goals by Billy McCarthy (1-3) and Conor Lanigan (1-1) gave Thurles a 2-12 to 1-11 half time lead. Ben West was the Nenagh goal scorer.

Cian Crowley scored Nenagh’s second goal just after half time to leave a point separating the teams. They needed a win after their first-round defeat to JK Brackens, but Thurles Sarsfields took over thanks to a seven-point unanswered run leaving Nenagh with a hill to climb, not helped by fourteen wides while Thurles hit just five. Thurles scored 2-22 from play while Nenagh didn’t do too bad on that score either with a 2-12 return from play.

Toomevara 1-22 JK Brackens 0-23

Adam Hall’s goal was the winner as Toomevara began this year’s league campaign with victory over JK Brackens in Toomevara on Sunday.

Brackens started brightly but were guilty of some wayward shooting which allowed Toomevara lead 0-6 to 0-5 by the first quarter. The home side enjoyed dominance in the second quarter and landed four on the trot to lead 0-13 to 0-8 approaching the break. However, Brackens finished strong with two Fairbrother frees cutting the margin to two at half time.

The opening minutes of the second half produced a Toome goal when Adam Hall got the vital touch, and this proved the difference in the end. Kevin McCarthy was Toomevara’s top-scorer with five points while Jack Delaney scored four from play while Joey McLoughney contributed three as Toomevara found it easier to score from play with 1-16 of their total coming this way. Lyndon Fairbrother scored an incredible 0-18 for Brackens with three points from play. Adrian Bourke and Neil Quinlan were also on target.

DIVISION 2

Loughmore/Castleiney 0-14 Templederry Kenyons 1-23

Colm Murray got the game’s only goal shortly after half time as Templederry secured a twelve-point win over a weakened Loughmore/Castleiney side in Castleiney on Sunday.

Portroe 0-14 Gortnahoe Glengoole 1-18

Keane Hayes scored 0-11 (10 frees) as last year’s Premier Intermediate runners-up were too good for Portroe on Sunday in Portroe.

Darragh Maher was the game’s goal scorer which came just on the verge of half time after he cut a decisive run through the Portroe cover after he was set up by Kevin Slattery.

Roscrea 0-18 Clonakenny 1-18

Despite the closeness of the teams geographically, it was 1968 since the sides last met in a competitive senior game prior to last Sunday where John Joe Ryan’s goal late in the second half helped Clonakenny to a cherished three-point win in Roscrea.

Ryan scored 1-10 (0-7 frees) as Clonakenny led 0-13 to 0-10 at half time. However, Roscrea, led by Conor Fitzgerald on 0-8 from frees kept in close contact until Ryan’s goal made the difference.

Holycross/Ballycahill 3-17 Burgess 1-18

Burgess came up just short in a high scoring game at Holycross last Sunday.

After a bright opening few minutes, Burgess found themselves in arrears when Darragh Woods found the net for Holycross. However, Burgess, with Stephen Murray on target from placed balls, recovered and went toe to toe with the home side and by half time scores were level, 0-12 to 1-9.

Minutes after the restart, the game entered a decisive juncture when Holycross regained the lead when an inspired Jack Dwan found the net as part of a 1-3 run by the same player. Burgess hit back with a goal from Kieran Grace, but Jimmy Lahart hit home for Holycross third goal to seal the tie.

DIVISION 3

Knockavilla Kickhams 0-18 St Mary’s 1-10

Knockavilla Kickhams recorded a five-point win over St Mary’s in Dundrum on Saturday.

The home side trailed at half time, 0-8 to 0-7, before producing the goods in the second half with Stephen Browne’s perfect dozen (10 frees) ensuring victory for the West-men.

Lorrha........................................ 0-16 Ballingarry............................. 1-22

An understrength Lorrha side fell to a well-organised Ballingarry side in round 2 of the County Hurling League in Tony Reddin Park on Sunday.

Short six of the side that started in the county intermediate final victory last October, they came up against a strong Ballingarry side who made the long journey North in big numbers and hit the ground running, racing into an 0-8 to 0-2 lead inside the first quarter with wing forward Michael Ivors to the fore with five points from play while former Tipp senior panellist Dylan Walsh top scored with twelve points, four from play.

Lorrha struggled at the other end with only two scorers in the first half, captain Michael Dolan and Colm Fogarty, as they cut the gap to 0-11 to 0-8 at half time.

The South side stretched the lead out to seven points midway through the second half before Lorrha played their best period with Darragh Guinan and Niall McIntyre chipping in with points as they reduced the margin to three with five minutes to go but Ballingarry didn’t panic and put the seal on the win with an injury time Kieran Lyons goal.

Silvermines 1-21 Skeheenarinky 0-16

Silvermines were at home to a determined Skeheenarinky side on Sunday but came away with a hard earned eight-point victory.

The home side started brightly and surged into an early 0-6 to 0-2 lead. By the 18th minute the lead was out to six-points but Skeheenarinky hit five points on the bounce to reduce the deficit to just a solitary point by the interval, 0-9 to 0-10.

Silvermines hit back with four unanswered points after the break and maintained the upper hand until a 54th minute Danny Quinn goal provided the necessary impetus for a well-deserved eight-point victory.

DIVISION 4

Shannon Rovers secured the points following a walkover from Ballybacon/Grange while Ballinahinch suffered a heavy 1-16 to 0-6 loss to Carrick Davins in Carrick-on-Suir.

DIVISION 6

Defending champions Knockshegowna continued their winning start to Division 6 with victory over Solohead in Ballingarry on Saturday evening.

A number of outstanding first and second round games will be played in the coming days with the third round on the weekend of 14-16 April.