County Hurling League Round-Up

By Liam Hogan

DIVISION 1

Toomevara 1-14 Upperchurch/Drombane 1-19

The concession of a goal just before half time cost Toomevara their chances of winning their opening County Hurling League Division 1 clash against Upperchurch-Drombane at Saint Michael’s Park, Toomevara last Thursday.

Conor Fahey’s goal put Upperchurch-Drombane in a 1-11 to 0-9 half time lead and the cushion needed to see them through for victory. Fahey was one of ten scorers on the Mid Tipp team scoring list with Paul Ryan heading the list with seven while Niall Grant and Diarmuid Grant contributed a brace each.

Kevin McCarthy was Toomevara’s top scorer on 1-9, the goal coming from a penalty and eight points from placed balls. Toome lost Jack Delaney through injury before half time.

Nenagh Eire Og 1-14 Thurles Sarsfield 2-24

A second string Nenagh Eire Og found Thurles Sarsfields too hot to handle when the sides met at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh last Friday.

They opening half did the biggest damage as Billy McCarthy’s goal helped the mid side take a 1-13 to 0-6 half time lead. Nenagh improved in the second half with Tommy Heffernan finding the net, but Thurles had far too many aces as Aidan McCormack (1-8) Pa Bourke, Eoin Purcell and Michael Russell picked off the scores. Thurles had ten scorers on their scoresheet.

Mullinahone 3-13 Loughmore/Castleiney 0-18

A weakened Loughmore/Castleiney side found Mullinahone a step too far when the sides met in the opening round of the County League in Castleiney on Sunday. The ability to score goals was the difference and goals from Graham Horan and Jack Shelley helped Mullinahone to 2-8 to 0-5 half time lead.

Loughmore fought back in the second half with Liam McGrath the source of the comeback as he scored 0-12 (7 frees). John Ryan, Philip O’Connell, and Aidan McGrath were also of assistance but in the end the goals were the difference with Eoin O’Dwyer grabbing the third green flag. Eoin Kelly scored three points from frees for the victors.

Kilruane MacDonaghs 6-19 JK Brackens 4-14

It was goals, goals and more as Kilruane MacDonaghs scored six in their eleven-point win over JK Brackens played at floodlit Borrisoleigh on Monday night.

Kilruane led 3-11 to 1-9 at half time and the green flags scored in the first quarter with Jerome Cahill, Conor Cleary and Kian O’Kelly were on target. Andrew Ormond scored the goal for Brackens.

The early stages of the second half saw five goals scored in a nine-minute spell. Kian O’Kelly grabbed his second with Lorcan Roche firing one back a minute later. Lyndon Fairbrother found the net with a close range free, but Thomas Cleary secured a three pointer in the 43rd minute before Martin Bergin replied with a similar score four minutes later. With ten minutes remaining it was 5-14 to 4-12 but Kilruane held firm and Martin Grace’s goal in the 58th minute put the issue beyond doubt. Kian O’Kelly scored 2-4 (0-3 frees) as Kilruane scored all but four points from play with eleven players on the scoresheet. Lyndon Fairbrother helped himself to 1-9 (1-7 frees) and Andrew Ormond scored 1-3.

There are two outstanding round 1 games on Thursday night under lights as Borris-Ileigh host Clonoulty/Rossmore and Drom & Inch travel to Kiladangan.

DIVISION 2

Gortnahoe-Glengoole 1-11 Roscrea 0-20

Alan Tynan scored five points as Roscrea defeated Gortnahoe/Glengoole with thanks to an improved second half performance having led 0-10 to 1-5 at the interval.

Eire Og Annacarty 2-15 Moycarkey/Borris 1-17

Two late goals helped Eire Og Annacarty to a first-round win over Moycarkey/Borris in Annacarty last Thursday.

The goals came in the 54th & 58th minutes, the first by Dinny Crosse and four minutes later Paudie O’Dwyer finished the job to help the club earn two valuable league points.

In fact, the westerners looked a beaten docket as they had to produce a second half fightback as they trailed at half time 0-10 to 0-7. Wing forward Aidan Griffin scored 0-8 (7 frees), along the way.

Thanks to a goal by Max Hackett, the Moycarkey side seemed destined for victory as the midfield star scored 1-2 but goalkeeper Rhys Shelly finished top scorer with six points from frees while Kieran Cummins scored two from play.

Portroe 1-23 St Marys 0-13

Host club Portroe were much too good for a second-string St Mary’s side in this opening league encounter on St Patrick’s Day. John Sheedy scored eleven points (8 frees) and Ruadhan Mulrooney contributed 1-4 with Portroe always in command, after leading 1-11 to 0-5 at half time.

Holycross/Ballycahill 1-22 Templederry Kenyons 0-23

Jack Dwan’s goal before half time was the difference as Holycross/Ballycahill prevailed over the Seamus O Riain champions Templederry in Holycross on Saturday. Templederry led at half time 0-16 to 1-10

Cashel King Cormacs 2-14 Carrick Swan 1-15

Adrian Cummins snatched an injury time goal to see Cashel King Cormacs get over fourteen-man Carrick Swan in Cashel on Sunday.

Danny O’Hanlon was the red card recipient and his loss hurt the Carrick team who trailed 0-8 to 0-7 at half time. Ros Bonnar scored the other goal for the winners.

Clonakenny 0-11 Killenaule 0-11

Cian Dwyer’s equalising free helped Clonakenny earn a share of the spoils when they drew with Killenaule in Moneygall on Sunday. Clonakenny came from a 0-6 to 0-4 half time deficit.

DIVISION 3

Newport 2-19 Sean Treacys 1-16

Martin Carey scored two goals, one in each half as Newport pulled one over neighbours Sean Treacys in Lacken Park, Newport last Thursday. The teams were level 1-10 each at half time but Newport, helped by the breeze managed to pull away.

Ballina 1-16 Moyne-Templetuohy 1-10

With the help of a David Grace goal, Ballina came from behind to defeat County Intermediate champions Moyne Templetuohy in Ballina last Thursday. The winners trailed at half time 1-8 to 0-5.

Burgess 1-14 Silvermines 0-17

The all-North clash between Burgess and Silvermines saw the sides share the points in Kilcolman on St Patrick’s Day.

Silvermines led 0-10 to 0-8 at the break after an even enough opening half. There was some impressive free-taking from Danny Keogh considering a stiff cross-field breeze.

Burgess really came into the game in the third quarter, but Silvermines kept well in touch and edged clear in the closing stages before a late injury-time Burgess surge guaranteed the home side a share of the spoils. Stephen Murray grabbing the three pointer for Burgess

Lorrha 3-12 Moneygall 2-16

An injury time Adam Hogan free earned Moneygall the win over Lorrha at Tony Reddin Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Lorrha began well with Martin Gorman and Michael Dolan on target from placed balls. Moneygall worked their way into the game helped by a goal from full forward Phil Fanning to lead 1-7 to 0-9 at half time.

Lorrha scored an early second half goal from Chris Fogarty to retake the lead before Moneygall hit back with their second goal from Fanning, while man of the match Adam Hogan was superb in his general play, as well as frees, scoring eight points from placed balls.

A Cian Hogan goal, in a tally of 1-3, saw Lorrha retake the initiative before Moneygall hit five on the bounce to take a three-point lead before Chris Fogarty brought the sides level with his second goal late in normal time before Adam Hogan landed a free deep in injury time to seal the two points for Moneygall, although Lorrha will rue fourteen wides to just four for Moneygall’s whose efficiency in front of goal was the deciding factor.

Elsewhere in the group Ballingarry had a good win 1-15 to 0-12 over neighbours Kilsheelan/Kilcash. A good win for the Maroons against a fancied team that were defeated in last year’s County Intermediate hurling final.

The match between Ballinahinch and Knockavilla Kickhams was postponed and has been rescheduled for next Sunday.

DIVISION 4

It was a good day all round for North Tipp teams and both Shannon Rovers and Borrisokane didn’t let the division down thanks to their respective victories.

On Thursday, Shannon Rovers defeated Galtee Rovers 2-14 to 0-15 in Bansha while on Friday in Gardiner Park, Borrisokane drew with Boherlahan-Dualla 2-15 to 1-18.

Cappawhite and Golden Kilfeacle also drew at 0-17 each while in Group 1, Carrick Davins defeated Ballingarry 1-14 to 0-8. 2021 junior ‘A’ champions Skeheenarinky secured a 2-12 to 2-11 win over Moyle Rovers while Arravale Rovers defeated Ballybacon/Grange 1-17 to 1-11.