CORK
Reigning champions Carrigtwohill remain on course to retain their Cork senior hurling title after they secured a 1-13 to 0-14 fourth round victory over Glen Rovers in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night. The East Cork side were grateful to a Robert White goal in helping them to an early 1-4 to 0-1 lead and they were still in control at the break as they were in front by 1-9 to 0-6. Glen Rovers did launch a comeback in the second-half to reduce the margin at the finish to two points but were too reliant on county senior Patrick Horgan for scores as Carrigtwohill held on to set up a quarter-final meeting with either Sarsfields or Blackrock on September 8th.
In last night’s other fourth round tie, Newtownshandrum, who have won four of the last 12 senior titles in Cork and contested six finals during that time period, were defeated by 1-15 to 1-11 by Na Piarsaigh. The game, played in Mallow, was a replay of the previous week’s drawn encounter when 2004 champions Na Piarsaigh had been pegged back by a late point by Ben O’Connor but on this occasion the city club made no mistake to secure a victory.
The winners lead narrowly at half-time by 0-6 to 0-5 and had suffered the setback of seeing leading attacker Padraig Gould coming off injured in the first-half. But they built on their advantage in the second-half and with Christopher Joyce in inspirational form, ran out victorious by four points and will now face Ballymartle at the quarter-final stage next Saturday afternoon.
LIMERICK
Reigning champions Na Piarsiagh will face 2010 champions Kilmallock in the semi-final of this year’s Limerick’s Live 95FM county senior hurling championship while the other last four match will be between 2009 champions Adare and 2005 title winners Garryspillane, after this weekend’s quarter-final action.
Kilmallock, trained by former Clare manager Tony Considine, defeated Croom by 1-19 to 0-9 in Bruff last night. Kilmallock, with the likes of county seniors Gavin O’Mahony and Graeme Mulcahy on board, proved far too strong for a Croom team who were managed by former Galway star Sean Treacy. The winners lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time before then pulling clear comfortably in the second-half to win by thirteen points at the finish.
Kilmallock will now square off against Na Piarsaigh after last year’s Munster club winners defeated Ahane by 5-14 to 0-14 in their quarter-final today in the Gaelic Grounds. Adrian Breen raised the first green flag for the Limerick city team and that enabled them to lead by 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval. They powered for home after the break with David Breen, Shane Dowling, David Shepperd and Kevin Downes all hitting the net to ensure an ultimately comfortable success.
In the first game of this afternoon’s double-header at the Gaelic Grounds, Adare held on to get the better of Patrickswell by 0-15 to 1-11. The winners, trained by former Clare boss Ger O’Loughlin, lead by 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time against a Patrickswell team, who had former Clare defensive great Brian Lohan at the helm. Patrickswell hit the front in the second-half to lead by 1-10 to 0-12 but Adare, despite having Declan Hannon sent-off, finished the stronger to prevail narrowly by a point. In the last quarter-final tie, played this evening in Kilmallock, Garryspillane got the better of South Limerick divisional outfit Emmetts by 1-14 to 0-16. The teams were level at 0-9 apiece at the break but in a tight finish with Garryspillane who prevailed to set up a last four showdown with Adare.
TIPPERARY
Reigning senior hurling champions Drom-Inch defeated Burgess by 0-21 to 0-12 in the third round of the Tipperary county championship in Dolla this afternoon while in the other third round clash at the venue there was a success for Kildangan, inspired by former county senior Darragh Egan in goal, by 0-20 to 0-18 against divisional rivals Templederry. In the other third round game last week there was a comprehensive victory for Borrisoleigh by 4-25 to 0-14 against Cappawhite in Clonoulty last Thursday night while Clonoulty-Rossmore, who have been defeated in the last two Tipperary senior hurling deciders, defeated Éire Óg Annacarty tonight by 1-22 to 2-11 to win their sixth consecutive West Tipperary senior hurling crown.
