14 man Clodiagh Gaels rally late for crucial SHC “B” win as Offaly championships start

A VERY relieved Clodiagh Gaels rallied powerfully late on to snatch an unlikely win against Clara in the Senior “B” Hurling Championship last Saturday.

The Killeigh-Killurin outfit played with fourteen men for forty minutes after their star player Liam Langton received a straight red card after coming in contact with a Clara helmet.

Clodiagh Gaels were 0-7 to 0-3 ahead after 20 minutes but the extra man made an instant difference and by half time, Clara were in front, 0-8 to 0-7.

Beaten in last year's senior B final, a Josh Fleming goal helped Clara to a 1-13 to 0-9 lead ten minutes into the second half. It looked very bleak for Clodiagh Gaels at that stage and they did really well to rescue the game. Seven points without reply brought them back onto level terms with ten minutes left and a late Conor Langton goal won the day as they edged home, 1-19 to 1-17.

In the other two senior B games, there were wins for Birr and Kilcormac-Killoughey. Birr had a slight edge on Shamrocks most of the way, leading by 0-11 to 0-7 at half time and holding on for a 0-19 to 0-16 win.

As expected Kilcormac-Killoughey were too strong for Lusmagh in the other game. With some talented young players playing in adult ranks for the first year, Kilcormac-Killoughey won convincingly by 2-16 to 0-12.

Round 2 takes place on Saturday, July 22 with Clara playing Kilcormac-Killoughey, Lusmagh meeting Shamrocks in a crunch game and Birr taking on Clodiagh Gaels – the top four qualify for two semi-finals.

Intermediate Hurling Championship

Four games took place in the Intermediate Hurling Championship last weekend and there were a couple of notable results.

Drumcullen set down a marker of intent with a very comprehensive 3-20 to 0-13 win over Belmont in group 1. Relegated from senior “B” last year, Drumcullen are very eager to get back up and they needed a good first round display.

Last year's junior champions, Edenderry also hit the ground running with a very good 2-15 to 1-13 win over last year's intermediate finalists, Seir Kieran in group 2. This win suggests that Edenderry will more than hold their own at this level.

One of the championship favourites, Carrig-Riverstown also showed good health in two, recording an impressive 1-18 to 1-11 win over Shinrone.

In the other group 1 game, Coolderry edged out St Rynagh's by 2-15 to 2-13.

The first round confirmed more or less what we suspected – that Drumcullen and Carrig-Riverstown are the early front runners but that Coolderry, Seir Kieran and now, Edenderry could have a big say.

Round 2 takes place on the weekend of July 20-22 with Coolderry playing Belmont and Drumcullen taking on St Rynagh's in group 1. In group 2, the meeting of Edenderry and Carrig-Riverstown will be particularly interesting while the first round losers, Shinrone and Seir Kieran need to get a win.

Junior Hurling Championship

The first round of the Junior Hurling Championship took place at the weekend. In group 1, Tullamore beat Shamrocks by 1-19 to 1-9 while Crinkill ran riot against Coolderry, 5-27 to 4-11 and Ballinamere had a big win against Kilcormac-Killoughey, 2-17 to 2-9.

Kinnitty got the better of Ballyskenach-Killavilla in group 2, 2-17 to 0-14 while Carrig-Riverstown have withdrawn from the championship and conceded a walkover to Kinnitty.

Round 2 takes place on the weekend of July 20-22 and fixtures are:

Group 1 – Tullamore v Kilcormac-Killoughey; Ballinamere v Coolderry; Crinkill v Shamrocks.

Group 2 – Clodiagh Gaels v Ballyskenach-Killavilla. Brosna Gaels have got the points from Carrig-Riverstown.