ROUND-UP: Intermediate hurling championship produces pulsating finish to group stages

The FBD Insurance Intermediate Hurling Championship group stages reached its conclusion last weekend, with a flurry of unexpected results and no end of drama keeping punters and supporters satisfied with the action across Tipperary.

In Group 1 there was one of the performances of the weekend from Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams who turned the form lines on its head, with a five-star demolition of CarrickDavins in Fethard on Saturday, with the West men winning out on a 4-16 to 1-10 scoreline.

Ben Ryan was the best performer on the day as he bagged himself a hat-trick while Pa Ryan, Elliot Thompson, and Adam Daly, along with freetaker Stephen Browne made up the bulk of the Kickhams score. In the process, Kickhams booked themselves safe passage to the quarter-finals.

Drom & Inch finished their group campaign with a relatively easy win over Arravale Rovers at the same time in Boherlahan.
Jack Ryan and Brian Moore hit 1-1 apiece while Aidan O'Meara and Darragh Kennedy registered 0-3 apiece in what was another solid performance from the Drom & Inch second team who finished strongly to record a 2-18 to 1-15 victory.

Drom & Inch have now topped the group and will be a tough prospect for anyone in the last eight.

Group 2 had huge drama on Saturday evening where Golden Kilfeacle defied all odds to clinch second place in the group in what was their first win of the campaign against Ballingarry in New Inn.

In what was a tightly and hardly fought match throughout, Dylan Walsh and Jack Leamy hit 0-11 each for their sides, but the game was decided late on when Jack Bergin struck a last-gasp goal to give Golden Kilfeacle the three point lead they needed to progress from the group, winning by 1-15 to 0-15.

They were helped in no small part by Cappawhite who continue to tip along nicely as they wrapped up their group campaign with a full house of wins, this time dispatching Kiladangan in horrible conditions in Templemore.

Despite a tight opening, Cappa’ always had the north outfit at arm's length. Dara McCarthy topped scored with 0-9 with six of those coming from play, while Conor Martin bagged 1-3 as the West outfit coasted into the last eight in form.

Kiladangan struggled to break down the Cappa’ defence all game, with DJ McGrath (0-5) and Neil Cahalan (0-8, 0-5f) the main scorers for their second team who now face into relegation fare, with the final score reading 1-21 to 0-16.

Only one game took place in Group 3, following on from the tragedy in Clonmel last week, with Kilsheelan Kilcash and Moneygall to face off at a later date, and there was nothing to write home about in the Boherlahan Dualla victory over Shannon Rovers on Saturday.

The Sash had it at their ease all game, winning out by 3-15 to 0-13 with the goals coming from Tossy Ryan, Darragh Hickey, and Seamie Leahy.

Boherlahan are currently top of the group and qualified, but are not yet sure of top sport, while Shannon Rovers were already condemned to relegation after round two.

Finally, Group 4 had two straightforward results between Saturday and Sunday, with Skeheenarinky booking their place in the last eight with an easy win in the James Barry derby against Upperchurch Drombane in Cahir.

Skeheen’ always had the better of their mid opponents on the day, and despite the best efforts of Pat Shortt who hit 1-4 during the game, they were never going to have enough as the south outfit claimed a 1-20 to 2-9 win, which condemned Upperchurch to relegation fare in the coming weeks.

In the final game on Sunday, Borrisokane continued their impressive form in victory over Ballybacon Grange in Holycross on a comprehensive scoreline of 1-23 to 1-10.

Ballybacon were up against it even before throw-in as they were without four key players in the form of veteran Brendan Cummins, Michael Hogan, Luke O’Brien and Colm O’Shaughnessy, and Borrisokane had no issues as they Oisin Larkin hit 0-8 in the win, along with 1-2 from captain Mike Heenan.

Brian Dillon hit 0-5 for Ballybacon Grange in defeat, but they will be happy enough with their lot as they secure Intermediate hurling for next year.

The quarter-final draw for all grades was due to be made at a CCC meeting on Tuesday night last.