TIPPERARY SHC
Drom-Inch, Thurles Sarsfields and Loughmore-Castleiney – who have won four of the last five county senior hurling titles between them – booked their spots in this year’s semi-finals over the weekend with Éire Óg-Annacarty joining them at that stage with a quarter-final triumph last night.
Reigning county senior hurling champions Drom-Inch issued a powerful statement of intent with a 2-22 to 0-13 quarter-final victory over Clonoulty-Rossmore in Semple Stadium on Saturday night.
In a repeat of last year’s decider, which Drom-Inch prevailed in by two points, the Mid Tipperary side were comprehensive winners as they powered into the last four of this season’s championship. Drom-Inch lead by 2-5 to 0-3 after the opening quarter with Joe Lupton bagging two goals.
Clonoulty-Rossmore cut the gap to 2-7 to 0-8 by the 25th minute yet four consecutive points by Drom-Inch saw them nine points clear by the interval. The winners pulled clear by 2-16 to 0-12 at the three-quarter mark and had a 15-point cushion to rely on at the final whistle.
Seamus Callanan was in excellent form for Drom-Inch as he notched 0-7 with Pat Lupton grabbing 0-3 as Drom-Inch had 11 different scorers on the night. Timmy Hammersley fired 0-6 for Clonoulty-Rossmore while Fiachra O’Keeffe hit 0-3.
In the curtain-raiser on Saturday evening, Loughmore-Castleiney also booked their spot in the semi-final with a 0-22 to 2-11 success over Mullinahone in Semple Stadium. The winners had starring performances from Noel McGrath (0-6) and Liam McGrath (0-4) with Eoin Kelly striking 2-8, all from placed balls, for the losers.
Mullinahone stormed into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes but Loughmore-Castleiney responded to draw level at 0-6 apiece by the 21st minute. Kelly then smashed two 20-yard frees to the net to propel Mullinahone into a 2-7 to 0-11 lead at half-time. However Loughmore-Castleiney emerged in a dominant fashion in the second-half, outscoring seven points to one after the interval, to help create a 0-18 to 2-8 lead with ten minutes remaining and they held on for victory.
In last night’s double-header at Semple Stadium there was success for Thurles Sarsfields by 3-22 to 1-12 against Kildangan while Éire Óg-Annacarty were 1-15 to 1-10 winners over North divisional champions Portroe.
Pa Bourke and Denis Maher struck first-half goals for Thurles Sarsfields to help them to a 2-12 to 1-6 half-time lead, with Joe Gallagher finding the net for Kildangan. Aidan McCormack pounced for Thurles Sarsfields third goal in the second-half to seal a sixteen-point success.
Padraig O’Dwyer was in magnificent form, striking 0-8, as Éire Óg-Annacarty defeated Portroe. The winners were ahead 1-9 to 1-2 at the interval with Seanie Ryan striking their goal while John Sheedy replied with a goal for Portroe.
DUBLIN SHC
Lucan Sarsfields, Kilmacud Crokes, Cuala and Crumlin and all booked their spots in the last four of the county senior hurling championship with quarter-final victories over the weekend.
Lucan Sarsfields were 1-16 to 1-7 victors over O’Toole’s on Saturday afternoon. The winners lead by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time and were in front by 0-13 to 0-5 by the 44th minute when O’Toole’s received a lifeline with some key scores. Peadar Carton struck a 45th minute goal before Liam Ryan added a quick point afterwards to trim the gap to four points. But Kevin Reilly fired a 50th minute penalty to the net to put the match to bed and Lucan Sarsfields ran out nine-point victors.
They will face Kilmacud Crokes at the semi-final stage after they emerged 2-13 to 2-8 winners over St Brigid’s yesterday morning. Kilmacud Crokes were ahead by 2-6 to 0-3 at the break with Ryan O’Dwyer and Sean McGrath grabbing their goals. St Brigid’s fought back in the second-half and Aodhan McEnerney fired home a goal to cut the gap to three points, 2-11 to 2-8, at one juncture. Yet Kilmacud Crokes grabbed the insurance points to secure their success.
Cuala were 2-13 to 1-12 winners over Craobh Chiarain on Saturday afternoon. David Treacy (Cuala) and Alan McCrabbe (Craobh Chiarain) traded early points before Treacy and Mark Schutte both raised green flags for Cuala before half-time to leave the winners in front by 2-8 to 0-9 at the interval.
Craobh Chiarain cut the gap to three points at one stage during the second-half but Cuala held on to triumph by four points. Cuala will now meet Crumlin after they defeated Na Fianna by 2-16 to 0-18 on Friday night.
Dublin SHC semi-finals: Saturday September 29th: Cuala v Crumlin, Parnell Park, 3.45pm; Kilmacud Crokes v St Brigid’s, Parnell Park, 5.15pm.
WEXFORD SHC
Oulart-The-Ballagh are one game away from their fourth consecutive county senior hurling title after they qualified for this season’s decider to face Faythe Harriers after the weekend’s semi-final action. Oulart-The-Ballagh were triumphant by 1-19 to 2-11 over Shelmaliers on Saturday afternoon in Wexford Park, having lead by 1-10 to 1-7 at the interval.
Faythe Harriers got the better of Rathnure by 0-19 to 2-9 in the other semi-final clash in Wexford Park. They will now contest their first final since 2001, the last time that they also won the championship.
