Carrig-Riverstown and Coolderry through to Offaly IHC final
CARRIG-Riverstown and Coolderry will compete in the Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship final after successfully coming through semi-finals at the weekend.
Carrig-Riverstown showed their quality as they had a big 0-24 to 1-12 win over St Rynagh's while Coolderry produced a mild susprise with a 4-12 to 1-19 win over Drumcullen in a thrilling, high scoring shootout.
It was a devastating defeat for Drumcullen, who came down from senior “B” last year and were desperate to get back up. They also lost to Coolderry in the group stages and they sorely missed the influence of injured forward Colm Gath this year – Gath has made great progress in sprinting in Tullamore Harriers, getting up to national standard but unfortunately got injured and this ruled him out for Drumcullen.
Coolderry, fielding a mixture of youth and experience, completed a great weekend for the club with this win – their seniors made the quarter-final on Saturday with an excellent win over Belmont on Saturday.
There was nip or nothing in it the whole way through. Drumcullen had their noses in front, 1-12 to 2-05 at half time but the concession of two more goals in the second half was a devastating blow. They were two points behind, 4-11 to 1-18 as it went into injury time and both sides managed one more point each – Drumcullen had a late chance to snatch victory but John Murray blasted over the bar.
Carrig-Riverstown showed their quality against St Rynagh's on Saturday. The Offaly-Tipperary border side have been the form side in the championship so far and will be favourites for the final but they will be very wary of the threat posed by Coolderry, who won't fear them one little bit. Carrig-Riverstown were in control almost the whole way here. They led by 0-12 to 0-4 at half time and were ten points clear, 0-21 to 0-11 with six minutes left. A late goal was scant consolation to St Rynagh's and this result was a done deal from a long way out.
The final will take place on the weekend of September 17-18.