County Hurling League Round 1 Review

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

JK Brackens 2-16 Roscrea 1-16

JK Brackens and Roscrea got the County Hurling League underway, under the lights on Friday night, as the sides shared the spoils in Templemore.

Roscrea were the better side in the first half and goals from Jake Lee (1-5) and Shane Fletcher helped them to a 2-10 to 0-9 lead, with Dan Ryan and Conor Sheedy also to the fore.

An early second half goal have Brackens much needed impetus and by the 41st minute were level. Roscrea came again with Lee and Campion on target again, but a late 1-1 saw Brackens edge in front before Michael Campion rescued a draw for Roscrea.

Carrick Swan 0-19 Upperchurch/Drombane 1-17

Defending division 1 champions Upperchurch/Drombane held off a Carrick Swan fightback to claim the points in the opening round in Carrick-on-Suir on Saturday.

Upperchurch began brightest when taking an early three point lead through points by Diarmuid Grant and Padraig Greene, with a Paul Ryan 65 sandwiched in between.

Carrick fought back but Upperchurch hit a purple patch approaching half time with a Jim O’Dwyer goal helping them to a 1-10 to 0-6 half time lead.

Carrick outscored the ‘Church 0-4 to 0-1 in the opening ten minutes of the second half. However, the Mid-men kept their noses in front as both sides traded points and, in the closing minutes, a score by Paul Ryan had them three in front.

Yet, the South men refused to give up and scored two late points but were unable to secure the equaliser.

Kiladangan 1-18 Moycarkey/Borris 0-17

Kiladangan got their league campaign off to a good start when they defeated Moycarkey/Borris in Puckane on Saturday night.

Moycarkey settled into the game quicker and held a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes. Kiladangan settled thereafter with the sides trading points throughout the remainder of the half with Moycarkey enjoying a 0-9 to 0-8 half time lead.

A Conor Culhane goal in the 37th minute gave Kiladangan the lead for the first time and they held onto the lead for the remainder of the game.

Dara O'Dwyer was prominent with four points from midfield on his senior debut whilst Evan Sherlock also made his senior debut and was very safe throughout in goals.

Lorrha 1-17 Toomevara 2-17

Toomevara came from seven points down at half time to defeat Lorrha in an entertaining opening round game at Tony Reddin Park on Sunday.

Lorrha were closer to full strength while Toomevara started with half of their county final team as the sides shared the first six points before the home side started to take advantage of the breeze with good scores from Conor Kennedy, Alan O’Meara and Colm Fogarty before Eoin McIntyre’s goal on 22 minutes helped them into a 1-9 to 0-5 half time lead, with Toome wasteful from placed balls.

Good points from Brendan Fogarty and Donnacha O’Meara’s second from play helped Lorrha maintain the advantage after the restart, but Toome started eating into the lead and a goal from a 21-yard free from Shane Nolan brought them back within four on forty minutes.

Lorrha missed a great goal chance to restore the seven point lead as Toome’s subs began to make an impact with the returning Alan Ryan goaling on 45 minutes to bring the visitors with one point. It was part of a 2-5 unanswered run which proved crucial for Toome with Kevin McCarthy and Austin Duff also to the fore in the comeback win.

CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 1-17 Holycross/Ballycahill 0-27

Holycross/Ballycahill always held the upper hand away to Mullinahone on Sunday, leading 0-13 to 0-6 at half time.

Mullinahone hit a purple patch midway through the second half and a Cillian Direen goal had the deficit back to four before Holycross, with the help of Darragh Woods (0-7) managed to hold out.

DIVISION 2

Clonakenny 2-16 Burgess 3-23

Burgess got their league campaign off to a very good start with a big win over Clonakenny in Clonakenny on Saturday.

They raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead in the opening stages and reaching half time they led 2-14 to 2-9. Cian O'Dwyer had kept Clonakenny in the game scoring six points in the first half, and he doubled his total by hours end while John Joe Ryan and Sean Maher scored a goal each.

Templederry Kenyons 1-19 Ballina 3-25

Ballina got their 2025 season off to a great start on Sunday with a successful trip to Templederry.

Matthew Power had Ballina’s first of his three goals which helped the visitors to a 1-13 to 1-10 lead at half time. Power went on to score 3-10 (0-7 frees) as Ballina dominated the second half to win by twelve points.

Tom Shanahan made his league debut in the blue and white colours and played at midfield.

Boherlahan-Dualla 1-16 Moyne-Templetuohy 1-14

Despite having a greater spread of scorers Moyne-Templetuohy couldn't capitalise on the possession they had and hit fourteen wides over the sixty minutes as they fell to Mid rivals Boherlahan-Dualla in Boherlahan on Saturday.

Conor Bowe was in action for Moyne as his side trailed 0-6 to 0-9 at half time. Moyne were boosted by a Diarmuid Leahy goal from a sideline but five minutes later Boherlahan's full forward Brian Downey scored a goal which proved decisive in the long run.

St Mary’s 2-23 Moneygall 0-21

Moneygall travelled to Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday to take on St Mary’s and fell to an eight point defeat.

The home side had the edge in the first half with Tipperary’s Seamus Kennedy and Peter McGarry prominent. Goals at the start and the end of the half game them a six point lead, 2-10 to 0-10.

Moneygall, with league debuts for Cormac Hoolan, Shay Gleeson, and Adam O’Brien, began to eat into the lead with Tadgh Whyte, Adam Hogan (0-11, 8 frees) and Bob Kenny finding the target which helped bring the margin down to two by the 50th minute.

However, St Mary’s finished the stronger and outscored Moneygall 0-5 to 0-1 in the remaining minutes.

Moyle Rovers 3-19 Newport 1-24

A Jake Forrestal goal followed by a Dara Ryan free in added time helped Moyle Rovers claim a one point win over Newport in Monroe on Sunday.

Forrestal scored 2-4 from play and Dara Ryan added 0-10, three from play. Newport led by six points at half time. Brian Tobin was their goal-scorer.

DIVISION 3

Ballingarry 2-12 Golden Kilfeacle 2-10

In a repeat of last year’s county intermediate semi-final, Ballingarry held out for a repeat victory over Golden Kilfeacle on Saturday.

Golden led at half time 1-4 to 0-5 with the goal from Andy Byrnes after 25 minutes. Ballingarry scored their first goal from a penalty before Golden regained the lead with a brilliant Shane Stapleton goal, but Ballingarry grabbed the all-important goal in the 57th minute to help them on the road to victory.

Portroe 1-24 Shannon Rovers 2-14

A good start helped Portroe to a seven point win over Shannon Rovers in Portroe on Sunday.

With John Sheedy accurate on frees, the home side went eight in front, 0-12 to 0-4, by the fifteenth minute before an Austin Tierney goal brought Rovers back in contention. By half time, the home-side led 0-17 to 1-10.

The second half saw Rovers continue with their recovery and thanks to a Sean Hough goal, they trailed by two, 0-20 to 2-12, with fourteen minutes remaining.

However, the home-side held out and a Sam Madden goal in the 55th minute put them six in front and back in command before emerging winners by seven.

Carrick Davins 1-15 Arravale Rovers 2-18

Arravale Rovers trip to Carrick-on-Suir was a successful one as they recorded a six point victory over the Davins.

Carrick opened the scoring after only two minutes with a point from a free closely followed by a goal. Arravale Rovers hit back with Eoin Doocey scoring a goal and the scene was set for a competitive game of hurling.

Just before the half time whistle, Johnny Lowry found the back to the net again and half time score saw the Tipp Town men in front, 2-7 to 1-8.

Carrick came out strong in the second half and it wasn’t long before there was only a point in it. However, Arravale Rovers hit a purple patch mid-way through the second half scoring seven points without reply which was followed by a second yellow card leaving Carrick Davins with fourteen men on the pitch.

DIVISION 5

Thurles Sarsfields 1-11 Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-14

Kilruane MacDonaghs travelled to Thurles and claimed the points on offer with a 2-14 to 1-11 victory over Sarsfields on Saturday.

Kilruane led 0-11 to 1-4 at the break. Goals from Niall Shinners in the 43rd minute and Páidí Williams in the 51st minute opened a nine-point gap with the home side cutting the deficit to six by the final whistle.

DIVISION 6

Knockshegowna 2-17 Knock 0-11

Knockshegowna got their League campaign under way at home to Knock on Friday night and recorded a twelve point victory, with the goals come from Paul Kennedy and Eamon Murphy.