COUNTY LEAGUE ROUND UP: Éire Óg continue at pace with big win while Borris down Clonoulty

Division 1 - Group 1

Nenagh Eire Og 4-12

JK Brackens 0-14

Goals win games and that was the case for Nenagh, as they had ten points to spare over bottom side JK Brackens at MacDonagh Park last Saturday.

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Win number two for Nenagh was very much required after their disappointing defeat at the hands of Clonoulty Rossmore last time out. Brackens began with promise, but their lead was overturned when James Cottrell found the net in the eighth minute. Brackens replied and three quick points had them two in front, but points by Adam Carey and Jamie Cottrell had scores all square.

Brackens were edging it in terms of securing their points, but goals made the difference and green flags by Ben West and Cottrell had the light blues in front at half-time, 3-3 to 0-10.

A brief response by Brackens was short-term and, after three Cottrell frees, further white flags by Paddy Murphy, Mark O’Farrell, Billy Moran and Mikey Heffernan followed before the icing on the cake came when Ben West scored their fourth goal.

Clonoulty Rossmore 1-11

Borris-Ileigh 2-11

Nathan Slattery’s goal in the dying moments of the game saw Clonoulty Rossmore earn a share of the points with Borris-Ileigh at Clonoulty last Saturday. Slattery’s goal and Stephen Ferncombe’s accuracy (0-10, 0-8f) saw the winners produce a second-half comeback after trailing 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

Elsewhere, the other group game, Kiladangan versus Drom & Inch, was not played as it was originally fixed for next weekend.

Group 2

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-17

Moycarkey Borris 0-17

Kilruane secured back-to-back wins with a goal to spare over Moycarkey Borris at Cloughjordan last Saturday.

Moycarkey went into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after only ten minutes. Having the crossbar to save them, Kilruane rallied and Michael Cleary’s goal in the 23rd minute enabled them to reach parity, 1-7 to 0-10 at the break. By the 42nd minute, Kilruane’s lead was out to four, 1-12 to 0-11.

Willie Cleary’s accuracy from frees and play (0-7, 0-5f) meant the MacDonaghs could maintain their distance for the remainder, but not without the scare of two gilt-edged chances by the visitors skimming the crossbar. Kilruane are in second place behind group leaders Cashel King Cormacs on six points.

Cashel King Cormacs 5-22

Holycross Ballycahill 0-20

Cashel King Cormacs turned water into wine when they proved much too strong for an understrength Holycross-Ballycahill side at Holycross last Sunday.

The ability to score goals was the difference. The winners trailed at half-time, 0-12 to 0-8. That was that as Cashel burst into life, with Brian O’Donoghue scoring the first goal. This was followed by Ross Bonnar, Daniel Moloney, Devon Ryan and Cathal Quinn finding the net as the West Tipp team maintained their winning streak, with full points from three games. Devon Ryan scored 1-9, including 0-6 from frees, as nine players made the scoresheet.

Outstanding game: Thurles Sarsfields v Toomevara

Group 3

Loughmore Castleiney 2-23

Mullinahone 0-20

Two first-half goals by Joey Quinn (1-1) and Paul McCahey (1-1) saw Loughmore Castleiney eight points in front at half-time, 2-13 to 0-11. Mullinahone produced a strong second-half effort, but the damage was done in those opening thirty minutes, with the visitors claiming their second win out of three games. Philip O’Connell was Loughmore’s top scorer (0-9, 0-8f, 0-1 sideline).

Roscrea 2-11

Upperchurch Drombane 3-8

Outstanding game: Carrick Swan versus Gortnahoe Glengoole.