ROUND UP: West Junior B Championships commenced with some good ties last weekend

Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling ChampionshipGroup 1

Cashel King Cormacs 2-15

Solohead 1-14 

John O’Shea at Leahy Park, Cashel

Cashel King Cormacs got off to a winning start to their Tipperary Co Op West Junior B Hurling campaign when they overcame the challenge of the holders, Solohead, at Leahy Park on Sunday.

Played in excellent conditions, with a slight breeze, Solohead got off to the better start and led by 0.4 to 0.0 after seven minutes. Michael Killian O’Dwyer opened the town side’s account one minute later and gradually eat into the visitors lead.

A Dylan O’Grady converted free brought the sides level with two minutes remaining before the break. However, a short puck out from Cashel was intercepted by Aaron Ryan and the corner forward made no mistake from close-in, giving Solohead a three point advantage at half time, 1-7 to 0-7.

Cashel got quickly into the game and levelled for the second time with a Dean Harding goal, five minutes after the restart. Scores were exchanged for the remainder of this evenly balanced contest, until a great individual goal from Michael McDermott put Cashel three up with two minutes of normal time remaining.

For the final minutes plus injury time Solohead sought the goal that was needed to get something from the game, but the Cashel defence held firm, eventually running out deserving winners, 2-15 to 1-14.

Scorers: Cashel King Cormacs: Dylan O’Grady (0-8, 0-7f), Dean Harding (1-1), Michael McDermott (1-0), Willie Fitzelle (0-2), Michael Killian O’Dwyer (0-2, 0-1f), Cian McGrath (0-1), Eoin Laffan (0-1).

Solohead: James Dee (0-9, 0-5f), Aaron Ryan (1-1), Stephen Dee (0-1), Jack Redican (0-1), Chris O’Connor (0-1), Anthony Owens (0-1).

Cashel King Cormacs: Robbie White; Michael Morrissey, Conor Devitt, Aaron Breen; Andrew Irwin, Michael Killian O’Dwyer; Donal Ryan, Cian McGrath; Dillon Burns, Willie Fitzelle, Dylan O’Grady; Eoin Laffan, Ross Minogue, Dean Harding, Michael McDermott.

Solohead: Philip O’Doherty, Colin Allen, Michael O’Connor, Brian Garvin, Jack Redican, Brendan Collins, Noel Kennedy, James Dee, Chris Kirby, Damien Ryan, Anthony Owens, Eoin Riordan, Declan Riordan, Chris O’Connor, Aaron Ryan.

Subs used: Stephen Dee for Declan Riordan (HT), Eoin Murray for Eoin Riordan (42), James Power for Damien Ryan (60).

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill)