County Hurling League Round-up

by Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Nenagh Eire Og 0-16 Clonoulty/Rossmore 4-21

Clonoulty/Rossmore created the biggest shock of opening round of the County Hurling League with their winning margin over Nenagh Eire Og at MacDonagh Park on Saturday.

Clonoulty led 2-12 to 0-10 at half time with goals by Stephen Ferncombe in the 26th minute with Robert Doyle adding a second sixty seconds later.

The one-sided nature of the encounter continued in the second half and Clonoulty added two more goals with Jack Ryan scoring the third in the 41st minute with Thomas Butler picking up another major in the 53rd minute. Stephen Ferncombe scored 1-5, Jack Ryan 1-3 and Cathal Bourke 0-6 (3 frees).

JK Brackens 0-11 Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-19

Kilruane MacDonaghs second half performance paved the way for a surprising eleven point win over JK Brackens in Templemore on Saturday.

The North men led 1-6 to 0-8 at half time with Paidi William’s goal in the twelfth minute proving the difference. By the 18th minute it was 1-6 to 0-3 but JK Brackens scored five unanswered points before the interval to bring the deficit back to one by half time.

Kilruane managed to keep their heads above water in the third quarter and by the 48th minute they led by four, 1-12 to 0-11. From there the visitors pulled away with seven points on the trot giving them the eleven point gap at the final whistle.

Kilruane had eight scorers with Kieran Cahill and Willie Cleary (4 frees) scoring 0-5 each with Paidi Williams scoring 1-2 and Kian O’Kelly 0-3.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-17 Toomevara 1-20

Toomevara’s good opening ten minutes was the difference as they defeated Thurles Sarsfields in Killinan last Sunday.

The visitors raced into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead with Jack Delaney scoring four. Three Aidan McCormack frees helped Sarsfields level at 0-7 each after sixteen minutes. It was nip and tuck in the second quarter, but Toomevara regained the lead and had a 0-12 to 0-10 advantage at half time.

Toome had the advantage of the breeze in the second half and produced their hurling in the third quarter as Conor O’Meara’s goal helped them to a 1-18 to 0-11 lead. Sarsfields came back strong in the closing stages and an injury time goal made the scoreboard more pleasant.

Shane Nolan was Toomevara’s top scorer with 0-8 (all frees) with Jack Delaney impressing with six from play. Aidan McCormack top-scored with seven points from frees for the Mid men.

Roscrea 1-13 Lorrha 0-21

Lorrha continued their winning momentum from the last two years as they defeated Roscrea on Sunday at St. Cronan’s Park.

In the battle of the last two Premier Intermediate county champions, it was the 2023 winners who controlled the game from the off and led 0-14 to 0-7 at half time with the aid of the elements; Colm Fogarty to the fore, finishing with eleven points, five from play.

Roscrea didn’t threaten to bridge that gap in the second half as Lorrha kept them at arm’s length with Eoin McIntyre impressive with five points from play. The visitors were nine points ahead going into the final minute of normal time when Liam Seacy fired a 21-yard free to the net. The post also came to Lorrha’s rescue in added time, but they held on for a deserved win with Cian Hogan and Donnacha O’Meara also contributing to the scoring effort.

Another of other games in Division 1 were postponed last weekend due to the weather and have been rescheduled for next weekend, along with the division 2 games involving Newport, Clonakenny and Silvermines.

DIVISION 3

Moneygall 2-14 Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 0-14

Moneygall scored a goal in each half to secure two league points from Knockavilla Kickhams at St. Flannan’s Park, Moneygall on Saturday.

Knockavilla held the advantage in the opening quarter, but a Joe Fogarty goal settled Moneygall, and they led 1-6 to 0-8 at half time. Knockavilla levelled after the break, but Paddy Fogarty had Moneygall’s second goal to move them five clear. Knockavilla pushed the home-side in the final quarter, but Moneygall can thank goalkeeper Kevin McCormack who produced some vital saves. Moneygall held on with an injury to Bob Kenny, just two minutes in to the game was their only blemish.

Portroe 0-15 Borrisokane 0-10

Portroe could afford to miss three goal chances but yet win by five points in a close encounter against Borrisokane in Portroe on St. Patrick’s Day.

Kevin O’Halloran scored five points, including two sideline cuts with Sam Madden contributing three. Oisin Larkin was Borrisokane’s top scorer six points with all bar one coming from placed balls.

Cappawhite 1-15 Shannon Rovers 3-9

Cathal Hogan scored 3-1 as Shannon Rovers claimed a share of the points from their trip to Cappawhite on Sunday.

Hogan scored a brace in the first half but Cappawhite, helped by the breeze, were the dominant side and points by Willie Barry and Ryan Renehan plus a goal by David Buckley helped them take a 1-8 to 2-0 half time lead.

Cappawhite held a four-point advantage before Cathal Hogan scored his third in the 42nd minute. It was nip and tuck from there on with the lead changing hands before Neil Clancy struck the equaliser towards the end.

John O’Meara (3 frees); Conal Moran (2 frees); Marcus Esmonde, Derek Horan and Sean Belfry were also on the scoresheet for the Rovers.

DIVISION 4

Arravale Rovers 0-13 Ballinahinch 0-12

Ballinahinch suffered a last minute defeat when they travelled to Tipperary Town to take on Arravale Rovers on Sunday.

With Evan Kearns their lead scorer with six points, all from frees, they led 0-10 to 0-8 at half time and held on to the lead as the game approached the closing stages before fourteen man Arravale scored four unanswered points to claim the two points.