County Hurling League Round 1 review

By Liam Hogan

Division 1

Drom & Inch 0-19 Kilruane MacDonaghs 0-17

John Campion scored twelve points (9 frees & 1 65) as Drom & Inch edged out Kilruane MacDonaghs at The Ragg on Saturday.

Kilruane held the advantage in the opening bouts when scoring three points in the opening three minutes. However, Campion took charge and scored six points as Drom held the upper-hand for the remainder of the opening half to lead 0-12 to 0-8.

Kilruane came back into the game during the third quarter and reaching the 57th minute it was level for the second time at 0-17 each before Drom finished the game with John Campion scoring twice to seal the win.

Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-13 Borris-Ileigh 3-13

Debutante Patrick Ryan scored 2-6 (0-5f) as Borris-Ileigh proved too good for Clonoulty/Rossmore in Clonoulty on Sunday.

Leading from start to finish, Borris-Ileigh had their opening goal in the fifth minute when 2024 All-Ireland minor winner Ryan took advantage of a defensive mix-up. Borris’ dominance helped them take a seven point half time lead, 1-9 to 0-5.

There was more and they scored their second goal when Conor Kenny found the net. Any doubt of victory was put to bed in the dying minutes when top scorer Ryan scored his second goal.

Borris-Ileigh had six scorers including Jerry Kelly, James Devaney, Mikey Maher, and Mikey Kennedy. Cathal Bourke’s was Clonoulty’s top scorer with 0-5 (4 frees) while Stephen Ferncombe 0-3 (2 frees) plus Ronan Heffernan and Michael Ryan (W) each scored.

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Nenagh Eire Og 3-10

In a game of two halves, Thurles Sarsfields held off a second half comeback by Nenagh Éire Óg as they held on for two point win in Killinan on Sunday.

Hurling with the breeze, scores by Robbie Stapleton, Eoin Purcell and Aidan McCormack had Thurles eleven points in front before Nenagh secured their first score after 24 minutes, courtesy of Ben West. Sars responded with another point before Adam Carey found the net close to half time as Sars led 0-13 to 1-1 at the break.

The second half was a different game as Nenagh Éire Óg came into form. Mikey Heffernan added five points from frees plus one 65 while his brother Barry scored two points from play. Jamie Cottrell also got his name on the scoresheet, and heading towards full time, Nenagh were eight adrift. In the 57th minute, Ben West found the net and Mikey Heffernan followed soon after with Nenagh’s third goal but ultimately, they finished two points short at the final whistle.

Division 2

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 2-13 Killenaule 1-16

Gortnahoe/Glengoole looked to have the points in the bag until Ciaran O’Dwyer blasted a goal from a close range free to help Killenaule force a draw between the neighbours in Gortnahoe on Saturday.

Aided by the breeze, the first half belonged to Killenaule who had four unanswered points on the board after just seven minutes. By half time, the lead stood at six, 0-11 to 0-5 with Mark Stakelum scoring 0-6 (5 frees) with Gus Browne scoring three and Tom Stakelum providing two. Keane Hayes (2 frees), Ronan Teehan 0-2 and Liam Hayes had supplied the Gortnahoe five.

However, the second half was a different story as Gortnahoe got back on track when goals by Billy Hogan (31st minute) and Ronan Teehan four minutes later moved the home side in front 2-8 to 0-13.

With Keane Hayes increasing his tally to five points from free, Gortnahoe appeared to be in control when leading by five with as many minutes remaining. However, Killenaule refused to give in, and they scored 1-2, the goal coming from O’Dwyer to earn a share of the points.