Intermediate Hurling Round-Up

Group 1

Drom & Inch secured top spot in the group with a 2-18 to 1-15 win over Arravale Rovers who finish bottom and go into the relegation playoffs. They are joined by Knockavilla Kickhams who found their form at the right time to hammer Carrick Davins who fell out of the qualification spots to finish third.

Group 2

Cappawhite 1-21 Kiladangan 0-16

Kiladangan’s head into another relegation playoff after they against a stronger Cappawhite side in the last round of the group 2 in Templemore on Saturday.

The West side entered the game as favourites but were pushed all the way until their greater scoring range closed out the deal in the final five minutes.

Cappa dominated the opening twelve minutes as they opened a 1-4 to 0-2 lead thanks to a Conor Martin goal on ten minutes. However, the next ten was all Kiladangan as they scored five unanswered points through DJ McGrath (3) and Ruari Gleeson (2).

For the remainder of the half both sides went toe to toe with Darragh McCarthy plus Pakie & Willie Barry increasing their tallies while Neil Cahalan was Kiladangan’s top-man with five points (2 frees) as the half time score read, Cappawhite 1-8 Kiladangan 0-10.

Another Cahalan free had scores level, but Cappawhite went on a four point run through Wille Barry, Dara McCarthy and Pakie Barry before McCarthy added a free made it 1-12 to 0-11 after 36 minutes.

Cappawhite continued to edge it and were five in front after 47 minutes before DJ McGrath reduced the margin. Two Dara McCarthy frees moved Cappa six clear before Neil Cahalan’s free kept Kiladangan in touch, before Sam Carmody helped regain the six point advantage. Kiladangan came once more and in the 56th minute DJ McGrath capped a fine hour with his fifth point. However, any remaining hopes of Kiladangan curbing the deficit soon disappeared as Dara McCarthy and two Tom Treacy points left the issue beyond doubt as they look forward to a place in the quarter finals while Kiladangan must encounter a relegation semi-final.

Cappawhite scorers: Dara McCarthy 0-9 (3 frees); Conor Martin 1-3; Pakie Barry, Willie Barry 0-3 each; Tom Treacy 0-2; Sam Carmody 0-1.

Kiladangan scorers: Neil Cahalan 0-8 (5 frees); DJ McGrath 0-5; Ruairi Gleeson 0-2; Martin Minehan 0-1

In the other game in the group, Golden Kilfeacle scored a goal with the last puck of the game to beat Ballingarry 1-15 to 0-15, and with it finish in second place in the group and progress to the knockout stages.

Group 3

Boherlahan-Dualla 3-16 Shannon Rovers 0-13

Shannon Rovers fell away in the last ten minutes as Boherlahan-Dualla consolidated their place in the knockout stages with a nine point win in Templemore on Saturday.

The Rovers were playing for pride with the game acting as preparation for a relegation battle while favourites Boherlahan were hoping to win in order to qualify for the quarter finals. Scores were level after four minutes before Boherlahan went 0-4 to 0-2 in front by the eight through scores by Mark Downey (2) plus one each from Brian O’Dwyer and Darragh Hickey.

The Rovers responded and by the 20th minute they had scored four unanswered, two each by John O’Meara and Tom Hogan (frees). The scores were coming fast, and Darragh Hickey’s second point narrowed the gap before another Hogan free.

However, the lead lasted just two minutes when Darragh Hickey scored a well-taken goal and after James Kirby added a point, Boherlahan were 1-6 to 0-7 in front at half time.

The opening minutes of the second half allowed Boherlahan put some daylight between them and the Rovers as Colm O’Dwyer, Tom Ryan (free) and Brian O’Dwyer each scored.

But the Rovers recovered and were three points in arrears when Tom Hogan’s free left the scoreline reading 1-10 to 0-10 after 41 minutes. The gap was still at four on 56 minutes when the critical score arrived when the Rovers defence were left stranded when an unmarked Tom Ryan goaled after he was set up by the impressive Brian O’Dwyer. There was no way back for the Rovers with Seamus Leahy’s goal sealing the issue.

Boherlahan-Dualla scorers: Tom Ryan 1-5 (0-4 frees); Darragh Hickey 1-2; Seamus Leahy 1-0; Mark Downey 0-3; Colm O’Dwyer, Brian O’Dwyer 0-2 each; James Kirby, David Clarke 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers scorers: Tom Hogan 0-5 frees; Conal Moran 0-4 (2 frees); John O’Meara 0-2; Andy Byrne, Marcus Esmonde 0-1 each.

The other game in the group between Moneygall and Kilsheelan/Kilcash was postponed following the tragedy in Clonmel on Friday night and will be refixed for the middle of next week.

Group 4

Borrisokane 1-23 Ballybacon/Grange 1-10

Borrisokane made it three wins out of three as they proved much too good for a depleted Ballybacon/Grange side in Holycross on Sunday.

The South side faced more problems as they had to lineout without Brendan Cummins, Michael Hogan, Luke O’Brien, and Colm Shaughnessy who were all injured.

Michael Heenan’s goal gave Borrisokane an early advantage and they added two points before Ballybacon upset the run of play with Michael Goonan scoring a goal in the tenth minute. That was the closest that Ballybacon came to upsetting the odds and with Oisin Larkin, Brain Davis and Gary Ryan on target the lead was out to twelve by half time, 1-16 to 1-4.

The tempo of the game dropped somewhat in the second half as Borrisokane held their nerve as they look forward to a day in the quarter finals while Ballybacon relax in the comfort of known they won’t be involved in the relegation struggle.

Borrisokane scorers: Oisin Larkin 0-8 (5 frees); Michael Heenan 1-2; Brian Davis 0-3; Liam Cleary, Gary Ryan, Ciaran Foley, Conor Ryan 0-2 each; Philip Austin, Eanna Dooley 0-1 each.

Ballybacon/Grange scorers: Brian Dillon 0-5; Michael Goonan 1-0; Oisin Ryan 0-3; Billy Hewitt, Gerry Cronin 0-1 each.

In the other game in the group, Skeheenarinky secured second place in the group with an eight point win over Upperchurch/Drombane who finished with twelve men and now head into the relegation playoffs.

In the knockout stages, Drom & Inch, Cappawhite, and Borrisokane will be joined by either Boherlahan-Dualla or Moneygall as top seeds for the quarter finals. The runners-up, Knockavilla Kickhams, Golden Kilfeacle, and Skeheenarinky will be joined by either Moneygall or Kilsheelan/Kilcash.

There will be one preliminary quarter final with Moneygall or Kilsheelan/Kilcash, whoever finishes third in group 3, will face a group runner-up.

The relegation playoff teams are known with Arravale Rovers, Kiladangan, Shannon Rovers and Upperchurch/Drombane to be drawn in two semi-finals with the two losers playing in a final with the loser relegated to junior A.