County Hurling picture becoming clearer
By Shane Brophy
The way is clear for the knockout stages of the County Hurling Championships following a dramatic weekend of final stage group action.
The draws for the majority of knockout stages where made last night (Tuesday)
Senior
The eight quarter finalists are already known as with North & Mid championship Kiladangan and Loughmore/Castleiney respectively qualifying through their groups, there will be no preliminary quarter finals. Clonoulty/Rossmore do not qualify for one despite finishing in third place in their group as there was no West senior championship played this year, while premier intermediate team Carrick Swan won the South.
The quarter finals on weekend 14/15 September will see the Thurles Sarsfields v Nenagh Eire Og; Kiladangan v Moycarkey/Borris; Loughmore/Castleiney v Kilruane MacDonaghs, and Toomevara v JK Brackens.
The North division will lose one of its eight senior teams as Borris-Ileigh, Roscrea, Lorrha and Templederry Kenyons all finished bottom of their respective groups and will play in a mini knockout championship for survival. The draw has pitted Borris-Ileigh v Lorrha and Roscrea v Templederry Kenyons, with the games to be played on 14-15 September as per fixtures calendar. The losers of both games progress to the final with the loser of that relegated to premier intermediate.
Premier Intermediate
The Premier Intermediate grade isn’t as straightforward as there will be one preliminary quarter final involving West champions Cashel King Cormacs who finished third in their group.
The group winners progressing to the quarter finals are Carrick Swan, Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill, Thurles Sarsfields and St Mary’s. The group runners-up are Gortnahoe/Glengoole, Boherlahan-Dualla, Upperchurch/Drombane, and Burgess but with the latter two being divisional champions, they can’t be drawn into a preliminary quarter final, and with a repeat group match with Gortnahoe also ruled out, it means Cashel will face neighbours Boherlahan-Dualla in a juicy knockout tie on Sunday, 8th September in Dundrum at 2.00pm.
The relegation situation is much clearer with Sean Treacys, Newport and Moyne-Templetuohy, who were all involved in last years battle to avoid the drop, doing so again, joined by Silvermines who do so with a little momentum after beating Carrick Swan in their final group game. The draw has pitted Silvermines against neighbours Sean Treacys while Newport face Moyne-Templetuohy at the same stage for the second year in a row, with the Mid side winning last years encounter.
Intermediate
There will also be one preliminary quarter final in the intermediate championship with Mid champions Drom & Inch failing to progress from their group and were drawn to face Borrisokane with that game fixed for Sunday, 8th September in Dolla at 2.00pm.
The other group runners-up Cappawhite, Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, and Portroe to the quarter finals along with group winners Golden Kilfeacle, Ballingarry and North duo Shannon Rovers and Moneygall.
The relegation semi-finals will see Arravale Rovers take on Ballybacon/Grange, while Skeheenarinky face Upperchurch/Drombane.