County Hurling League Review: Wins for Holycross and Nenagh in high-quality Division 1 clashes

FBD Tipperary County Hurling League Review - Round 1 

By Liam Hogan 

Except for one or two surprise results, everything else went along expected lines in the first round of the FBD Tipperary Hurling League played over the weekend.

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Recent meetings involving Kiladangan and JK Brackens saw very little between the teams but on Saturday, the Kiladangan forward line were too powerful for the Brackens defence as they scored five first-half goals to set them up for a three-goal win at Puckaun last Saturday.

The size of Upperchurch Drombane’s win over Loughmore Castleiney caught the eye, with the Premier County Intermediate and All-Ireland champions winning by 12 points against the Dan Breen winners, a side that wouldn’t have a full complement of players because of inter-county commitments, as is common with the county league each season.

In Division 3, the eye-catching result was Arravale Rovers’ 2-22 to 1-16 win over Knockavilla Kickhams.

DIVISION 1 - GROUP 1

Nenagh Éire Óg 2-16

Borris-Ileigh 0-18

Two late goals helped Nenagh Eire Og claim the first league points of the year when defeating Borris-Ileigh 2-16 to 0-18 at MacDonagh Park last Saturday.

In a game scheduled for Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh, but changed to the new Nenagh pitch a day before the game, it was Borris-Ileigh who took a 0-4 to 0-3 lead after ten minutes. With both Kevin Maher and James Cottrell accurate, the score-for-score continued with Tommy Heffernan on target for the Blues, while Borris-Ileigh, with the greater spread of scorers (nine by hour’s end), were just a point in front at half-time, 0-10 to 0-9.

Borris-Ileigh’s lead was out to three, 0-14 to 0-11, by the 42nd minute but Nenagh replied with three on the bounce while Borris needed James McCormack to be alert in goal. Eventually, the Nenagh pressure paid off and points by Barry Heffernan, Philip Hickey and Filip McIntyre moved them in the right direction before Aodhan O’Connor’s goal in the 56th minute gave them the lead, 1-16 to 0-16.

Borris-Ileigh brought it back to a single-point deficit before Philip Hickey found the net in the 62nd minute and that was enough.

Kiladangan 5-15

JK Brackens 2-16

Kiladangan’s ability to cut the JK Brackens defence to ribbons helped secure a big win over the Mid champions at Puckaun last Saturday. Joe Gallagher and Bryan McLoughney had two goals by the eighth minute as Kiladangan led 2-2 to a point. 

Shane Scully’s goal a minute later, plus a Lyndon Fairbrother point from play, put JK Brackens back in the picture, but Kiladangan were on song and Conor Byrne’s goal in the 12th minute helped the home side go 3-6 to 1-2 in front by the 21st minute.

Padraic O’Shea’s goal in the 24th minute had Brackens six shy of the leaders as the Mid Tipp side rued the missed chances, including frees by the normally accurate Fairbrother. At the other end, Kiladangan continued with ruthless efficiency and green flags by McLoughney (2-4 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65)) and Neill Cahalan meant they held a comfortable 5-10 to 2-5 lead at the break.

Helped by the ever-increasing stiff breeze, JK Brackens began to make a game of it and their bench did a lot to improve matters, with Jack Marnell scoring three second-half points along with two by Conor Cadell, but it was never going to be enough to see them pull off a major comeback.

GROUP 2

Holycross Ballycahill 1-21

Toomevara 1-18

The three games in Group 2, two of them, Thurles Sarsfields v Kilruane MacDonaghs and Roscrea v Gortnahoe Glengoole, did not go ahead last weekend. In the only game played, Holycross Ballycahill ran out narrow winners by 1-21 to 1-18 in St Michael’s Park. 

First half goals from Bob Delaney for Toome and a peach from Jimmie Lahart had the Mid side winning by one point at the break at 1-11 to 1-10. Gradually, Holycross Ballycahill pulled themselves into a three-point lead going into added time, which they managed to hold for the win.

GROUP 3

Upperchurch Drombane 1-21

Loughmore Castleiney 0-12

Upperchurch Drombane’s good run of form continues as the All-Ireland Intermediate champions defeated Loughmore Castleiney at Castleiney last Saturday. After a close-fought opening half, it was Upperchurch who managed a three-point lead at half-time, 1-7 to 0-7, before taking control of the game in the second half and running out easy winners by double scores.

Mullinahone 2-12

Carrick Swans 0-15

Mullinahone secured a win over near neighbours Carrick Swans at Carrick on Suir last Saturday. Two second-half goals by Graham Horan proved the difference between this young Mullinahone side and a Carrick Swan team who must rue their first-half wides. 

Carrick led by two points at the break, but Mullinahone came out strong in the second half, and Horan’s second goal proved crucial, which he buried after a great run by Enda Keane to set him up. A late red card for Mullinahone’s Matthew Direen made it a nervy finish for the winners, but they survived for this vital win.

Roscrea v Gortnahoe Glengoole Postponed

DIVISION 2 - GROUP 1

Burgess 2-13

Ballina 1-15

Eoin Grace’s goal in added time helped Burgess to a nice win over neighbours in an exciting game played in windswept conditions in Ballina last Sunday.

Grace, who played alongside his three brothers, got the vital score in the 61st minute to put Burgess two in front, leaving Ballina little time to respond despite grabbing the last score of the day.

Burgess had the first goal through David Nealon’s goal after eight minutes before Matthew Power hit back with Ballina’s three-pointer a minute later, a goal that helped the Premier Intermediate champions to a 1-8 to 1-7 half-time lead. Ballina managed to stretch their lead in the third quarter, but the Burgess response was timely, and they prevailed.

In the third game, it was St Mary's 1-17 Boherlahan 0-15 at Clonmel on Sunday.

GROUP 2

Eire Og Anacarty 0-16 Moyne Templetuohy 1-11

Eire Og Anacarty survived a late Moyne Templetuohy comeback to claim the first league points on offer at a wet and windy Annacarty last Sunday.

After an encouraging start the home side were hit by the concession of a goal in the ninth minute and that goal meant Eire Og trailed at the break 1-7 to 0-9. 

The introduction of Brian and Kevin Fox gave Eire Og the vital tools to gradually weather the storm as accurate placed balls by Aidan Griffin plus points from play by Donal O’Dwyer and Kevin Fox meant victory by 0-16 to 1-11.

Clonakenny v Templederry was not played.

DIVISION 3 - GROUP 1

Golden Kilfeacle 2-15 

Kilsheelan Kilcash 2-14

An improved second-half performance and Ben Currivan’s one-man show helped Golden Kilfeacle to a one-point win over Kilsheelan at Kilsheelan last Sunday. Currivan finished with 1-11 (1-0 pen, 0-7f, 0-2 ’65s) and it was his winner in the 61st minute that won the day.

Helped by the breeze, the home side dominated the first half to take a commanding 2-5 to 0-1 lead by the 18th minute before Golden managed to secure a few much-needed scores to leave them nine in arrears at half-time, 2-8 to 0-5.

The visitors outscored the home side 0-6 to 0-2 in the opening ten minutes of the second half before Shane Stapleton’s goal in the 42nd minute made it 2-10 to 1-11. It was 2-12 to 1-12 by the 49th minute before Ben Currivan fired home a penalty to level.

Golden took the lead with another Currivan free, but Kilsheelan responded with back-to-back points before Ciaran Byrne levelled and Currivan did the rest for a big win.

Cappawhite 0-17 

Portroe 0-10

Injury-hit Portroe were outscored by Cappawhite at Cappawhite last Sunday. Port trailed 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time but were matched score for score in the second half as Cappawhite won 0-17 to 0-10. John Sheedy scored 0-8 (6f, 65) of Portroe’s total with Robbie Horan scoring on his Intermediate debut.

In the third game, it was Silvermines 1-13 Ballingarry 1-17 at Dolla on Sunday.

GROUP 2

Sean Treacys’ greater firing power helped defeat Newport by 0-17 to 1-11 at Kilcommon last Sunday. The winners started well with points from Larry Collins but Newport replied with points from Conor Floyd and Colin Floyd as both teams continued to trade scores. 

Then, minutes before half-time, a long delivery from Kevin Fitzpatrick went all the way to the net to leave Newport ahead at the break, 1-7 to 0-7.

Treacys came with a fightback in the opening minutes of the second half as Dylan Dawson, Colm Kennedy and Paddy Carey had scores level before Paddy Carey and Cillian Kennedy moved them into the lead. 

Newport replied with Conor Floyd and Pa Ryan on target but it was Treacys who finished the stronger as late points by Paddy Carey ensured a three-point win.

Shannon Rovers 0-18 

Borrisokane 0-14

Shannon Rovers had four points to spare over neighbours Borrisokane when the teams met at Gardiner Park last Sunday. The winners led 0-12 to 0-5 at the interval and despite playing into a stiff breeze in the second half, increased their advantage to nine by the 40th minute. Borris recovered to score six unanswered points before Conal Moran’s injury-time free ensured victory for The Reds.

In the third game it was Knockavilla Kickhams 1-16 Arravale Rovers 2-22 at Dundrum on Saturday.

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