ROUND UP: County hurling league have final pairings confirmed after semi-final weekend

By Liam Hogan

Division 2

Boherlahan 3-23

Killenaule 1-18 

Boherlahan displayed real scoring power in the second half when defeating Killenaule in the semi-final at Littleton last Sunday.

Boherlahan Dualla played against the strong breeze in the first half but opened the scoring in the opening seconds through Ryne Bargary, Ger O'Dwyer, and Brian Og O'Dwyer, all striking fine points from play to set a high tempo.

Tom Stakelum replied for Killenaule in the ninth minute with a well-taken score from play, but it was Tomas Ryan who really began to make his mark with three successive frees in the 10th, 11th, and 13th minutes to put Boherlahan into a rhythm.

Luke Ryan and Ciaran O'Dwyer added further frees for Killenaule and the game’s standout moment came in the 21st minute when Mark Stakelum hit the net with a powerful goal from play, shifting the momentum firmly in Killenaule's favour with Joe Mouse slotting a fine point from a quick puck out. Play continued as Luke Ryan and Tom Stakelum closed the half in style, which saw Killenaule lead 1-7 to 0-8 at half time.

The breeze continued to be a factor in the second half, and Boherlahan benefited as Seamie Leahy secured two goals with notable performances from brothers Brian Óg and Gerard O’Dwyer bringing ample assistance and a comfortable eleven-point victory. 

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St Marys 2-18 

Gortnahoe Glengoole 4-10 

A near full-strength St Mary’s almost threw it away but did enough to survive a comeback by a wasteful Gortnahoe Glengoole side at Leahy Park, Cashel last Sunday.

Despite conceding an early Keane Hayes for Gortnahoe Glengoole it was Saint Marys, with Seamus Kennedy in action and playing with the wind, went on to dominate much of the first half and goals by Ross Peters and wing back Sammy Ryan had them 2-7 to 1-0 in front before Kean Hayes scored Gortnahoe’s second goal in the 16th minute.

It was 2-10 to 2-1 at half-time, and Gortnahoe, now playing with the wind, began their fightback, and in the 47th minute, they had a third goal through Keane Hayes. 

St Mary’s needed a source of comfort to ease their worries, and a goal in the 54th minute was the perfect result. 

But yet, there was more from Gortnahoe, and a Lorcan Burke goal made it 2-18 to 4-8 with three minutes remaining. Gortnahoe continued in an effort to bridge the deficit and two more Keane Hayes scores (3-6 and 2-2 from play) as not enough. St Marys survived. 

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Division 3

Thurles Sarsfields 1-18 Newport 2-10 

Newport’s hopes of a place in the final failed as a more prolific Thurles Sarsfields side had too many strings to their bow when the teams met in the FBD County Hurling League Division 3 semi-final last Saturday at a wet and windy Dolla.

Thurles started brightly with points by Jack Lanigan, Mikey O’Brien, and Conor Lanigan pushing them into an early lead against the wind. 

Newport began to settle and replied with points by Callum Poole and Oran Connors before taking the lead with a great team goal finished by Oran Connors. Newport led 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

Thurles were back level by the 35th minute after a goal by Jack Lanigan, and playing with the breeze, Sarsfields looked good as they went on to take a nice lead. 

However, Newport produced a comeback, and a goal from Pa Ryan had those two in arrears with ten minutes remaining. 

However, Thurles had the extra gears and a solid bench, as fresh legs and points by Rory Purcell and Aidan Stakelum completed the scoring as Thurles ran out winners by five points.  

Ballingarry 0-18 Portroe 2-11 

An injury-time free by Dylan Walsh helped Ballingarry to a one-point victory over Portroe in a closely contested game played at a wet and windy Boherlahan last Sunday.

The Ballingarry sharpshooter, who spent a period on the Tipperary panel throughout the National Hurling League, finished top scorer with 0-9, including six frees and a sixty-five.

Scores were level five times, twice in the first half as Walsh scored three points, two frees and a sixty-five in the first half but Portroe were slightly the better team and led 0-9 to 0-7 at half time with Sam Madden and John Sheedy scoring 0-3 each with the latter scoring from placed balls. Diarmuid Boyle added two more. 

Two goals in the third quarter, the first by Diarmuid Boyle after thirty-four minutes to make it 1-9 to 0-10. Five minutes later, John Sheedy had Portroe’s second goal from a penalty as Portroe led 2-10 to 0-12.

However, Ballingarry kept in touché with Tommy McGrath, Conor Vaughan scoring from play with Dylan Walsh adding a free to leave the minimum between the teams, Port 2-10 to 0-15, and a quarter of an hour remaining. 

John Sheedy hit back with his first point from play and his fourth in total, which incidentally was Portroe’s last score and twelve minutes remaining. 

Ballingarry, the holders, had that extra gear and points by Conor Vaughan (play) and Walsh from a free had the teams level for the fifth time before Walsh posted the winner in the 63rd minute. Ballingarry were the winners.

Division 4 Semi Finals

Arravale Rovers 3-19 Holycross Ballycahill 3-18 

Arravale Rovers just about survived when defeating Holycross in an entertaining game played at Dundrum last Saturday

Holycross may have opened the scoring, but it was Arravale Rovers, who playing against a strong wind, who quickly responded through Eoghan Lonergan before they scored four more points without reply. Holycross brought it back to within a point before Shane Quigley found the back of the net for Arravale Rovers. 

The lead lasted no length before Holycross scored an equalising goal through Jack Dwan. Further scores from Niall Sharpe, Daniel Ryan, Orrin Jones, and Seán O'Mahony meant that Arravale Rovers went into the halftime dressing room two points to the good, 1-10 to 1-8.

Holycross started the second half well with goals by Tony Leahy and Audie Lohan. Arravale, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over, and before long, Eoghan Lonergan found the back of the net to bring it back all square. 

It was Holycross's turn to keep the scoreboard ticking over before Cormac Maher scored Arravale Rovers' third and final goal. 

With the sides level, it was anybody’s game before Holycross went a point up. Then Arravale Rovers hit a purple patch, adding four points without reply, which would prove vital for the Tipp town side as Holycross were unable to close the gap. 

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Clonoulty Rossmore 2-16 Saint Patricks 1-11

Arravale Rovers will meet Clonoulty Rossmore in the final after Clonoulty defeated St Patrick's at Boherlahan last Saturday. Clonoulty, who were in control for most of the game as they overturned the outcome of the team's previous meeting, played a few weeks ago.

Division 5

Thurles Sarsfields 3-16 Galtee Rovers 2-14 

Played last Saturday in the outside Field in Thurles.

Division 6

Knockshegowna will play Thurles Gaels in the final after the semi-finals were played last weekend. 

On Sunday at Templemore, it was Knockshegowna 1-24, Clerihan 1-4. Twenty-four hours earlier, it was Thurles Gaels 2-14 Rosegreen 2-13.