Lots still to be determined after second round action
By Shane Brophy
After two rounds of games in the FBD Insurance County Senior, O Riain and Intermediate Championship, the picture is now clear for all clubs as to what they have to do in the third and final round in two weekends time to reach the knockout stages or avoid the relegation playoffs
Senior
As things stand in the senior hurling championship, holders Kiladangan and Kilruane MacDonaghs are both through to the quarter finals as group winners with a game to spare as they cannot be over-taken on head-to-head, even if they lose their final group matches. For Kilruane, it is a huge relief considering the suspension to Cian Darcy for his red card against Borris-Ileigh, can be played off against Roscrea. However, it also means that with a quarter final five weeks away, it gives Niall O’Meara time to recover from an ankle ligament injury which forced him out late against Borris last Friday. However, at this stage is does appear like a race against time for the Tipp man as those injuries are very slow to heal.
Thurles Sarsfields have one foot in the quarter finals after two wins also, but their score difference is so strong, a shock defeat to Upperchurch/Drombane in their final game shouldn’t scupper their chances of making the last eight, and even at that they are guaranteed a preliminary quarter final as Mid champions.
Effectively, there are twelve teams battling it out for the six knockout berths left with two juicy games in particular between Borris-Ileigh v Nenagh Eire Og and Loughmore/Castleiney v JK Brackens which are winner takes all.
Toomevara are almost there but need at least a draw in their final match against Mullinahone to confirm their place but a loss and a Clonoulty/Rossmore win over Holycross will see the group decided on score difference with very small margins between the three teams as it is.
If Clonoulty/Rossmore prove to be the odd team out, they will play in a preliminary quarter final as they West champions, as will Killenaule, as South champions, despite them playing in the O Riain Cup.
In terms of relegation, Roscrea and Moycarkey/Borris are so far guaranteed to be involved, with Holycross/Ballycahill and Drom & Inch currently placed to join them, but they still have a chance to extricate themselves with wins in their final games against Clonoulty/Rossmore and Eire Og Annacarty respectively.
Seamus O Riain Cup
Gortnahoe-Glengoole, Templederry Kenyons and Thurles Sarsfields have reached the quarter finals after two rounds. Thurles are guaranteed as group winners from group 1 and will be joined by the winner of Carrick Swan v Kiladangan, with Burgess the only team officially out of contention for the knockout stages and in the relegation playoffs.
Killenaule, Newport and St Mary’s look the next best places teams to reach the knockout stages but need at least a draw from their final games.
Group 4 always looked the toughest and is living up to its billing with St Mary’s with full points, Cashel and Portroe on two, with last years runners-up Lorrha propping up the table with two losses. However, the Lower Ormond men can still qualify with at least a five-point win over Cashel, which would at least keep them out of relegation. Then it would come down to how Portroe do against St Mary’s.
At this stage there is the potential for the relegation playoffs to be made up of all North teams with Burgess, Ballina, Silvermines and Lorrha all bottom of their groups, meaning one North team will drop to intermediate but all bar Burgess still have a chance to get themselves out of that situation.
Intermediate
The Intermediate Championship is living up to its “open” billing as no club has booked a place in the knockout stages as yet. Only Cappawhite in group 1 cannot qualify at this stage, however, as West champions they are guaranteed a preliminary quarter final, so it means all clubs are still in the running for the county title. However, Cappa will have to win the county title to avoid being involved in the relegation playoffs.