County Hurling League Round-up
By Liam Hogan
Division 2
Cashel King Cormacs 4-23 Ballina 4-6
A powerful second half performance saw Cashel King Cormacs waltz into the Division 2 Huurling League final when they overpowered Ballina in Leahy Park on Saturday.
The winners had to stage a recovery following a poor start that saw goals by Charlie King and David Kelly (2) saw Ballina build a commanding 3-1 to 0-1 lead with eleven minutes gone.
However, once the home-side found their stride they punched holes in the Ballina defence regularly and goals by David McGrath and Simon Delaney had them 2-11 to 3-4 in front at half time.
Cashel increased the tempo in the second half and the goals reigned in as they held Ballina scoreless for nineteen minutes with further goals by Adrian Cummins and Ger Browne stretching their lead to seventeen points.
The game was out of Ballina’s reach but they still managed to score another goal with David Kelly completing his hat-trick. Cashel were not done yet and they added further points through Devon Ryan was their top scorer on 0-12 (8 frees).
Cashel King Cormacs will play Clonakenny in the final after they edged out Carrick Swan.
Division 3
Moneygall 1-14 Shannon Rovers 1-8
A perfect ten by Joe Fogarty helped fourteen man Moneygall claim a place in the Division 3 semi-final when they defeated Shannon Rovers at St. Flannan’s Park, Moneygall on Saturday evening.
The Moneygall forward could have scored much more but was uncharacteristic off target from placed balls including two close in frees in the first half.
The winners led from start to finish with Mark Fanning’s goal in the 18th minute giving the home-side a 1-3 to nil lead.
Conal Moran opened Rovers account with a free a minute later before another Fogarty free. Two Conal Moran scores from play had the deficit down to four but Moneygall, who seemed to have more time on the ball, were six to good thanks to another Fogarty free plus a Niall Maher point from play.
However, Rovers did have a fair share of possession, but they lost their key man Conal Moran to a head injury when he was fouled by Moneygall wing back Cian Ryan which was deemed dangerous by referee Joe Leahy and the Moyne official checked with his umpires before he issued a red-card.
Tom Hogan took over the free-taking and his first placed ball went straight between the posts just in time for the teams to return to the dressing rooms for the interval and Moneygall leading 1-6 to 0-4.
Rovers played with the breeze in the second half but an early score by Joe Fogarty had Moneygall six in front. George Hannigan’s point kept Rovers in the frame but despite being a man down Moneygall kept their noses in front as another Fogarty free plus a point by Aodhan Ryan moved the margin out to seven after 38 minutes.
The Rovers did have their moments but were finding it difficult to break down Moneygall defence but Tom Hogan did find the target from another free. Moneygall hit back with a Joe Fogarty goal in the 42nd minute but it was disallowed but made amends with another accurate free a minute later.
From there it was the turn of Tom Hogan once more as he swapped scores with Joe Fogarty with the Rovers man scoring from placed balls either side of a Fogarty point from play.
As the game was coming to a close, Moneygall appeared to have a new lease of life as they picked up three unanswered points through Aodhan Ryan and Joe Fogarty before John O’Meara found the back of the net with a consolation goal for the Reds.
Joe Fogarty was man of the match for the winning side who never reached the peak of their powers with Jack Kirwan, Roddy Teehan and Cathal Greene, Aodhan Ryan doing enough in support. Mark Fanning fared best in attack with 1-1.
This game was a dress rehearsal for the North semi-final next month when Moneygall will be at full strength with Tipp star Sean Kenneally back in club action.
For Shannon Rovers the search for a win over Moneygall continues as the win in 2018 is fading. Marcus Esmonde, Alan Hannigan, Derek Horan, George Hannigan and Austin Tierney fared best for them.