Our convoluted county hurling championship has reached a significant staging post with business almost completed in the all-county groups. That’s been the upshot from last weekend’s games, which produced some interesting headline stories: Cappawhite join three Mid sides in the relegation battle; Templederry, Upperchurch and Loughmore all miss out on automatic qualification for the last sixteen; and there were heavy defeats for Sarsfields and Drom/Inch.
Where to begin? I’m always wary about commenting on the intricacies of this meandering system we operate with over thirty senior hurling teams involved. It’s a curious marriage of county and divisional systems with more tiers than a gypsy wedding cake! Anyway, apart from a pair of unfinished games, the county section of the championship is almost completed so it’s interesting to take a look at the rankings at this stage before the divisional business kicks off in earnest this coming weekend.
The top two from each group in the top tier – or Roinn 1 to give it its official title – qualify for the last sixteen. In group one of this section Nenagh Eire Og and Clonoulty/Rossmore, in that order, top the rankings. They played out a thrilling game on Sunday evening last at the Ragg, despite the atrocious conditions, with the North side just shading the verdict by the minimum.
It came down to a thrilling finish where the West side might have got a draw though in fairness they spent the game chasing a lead, one that they never fully reined in. Nenagh led by five at the break, thanks mainly to an Andrew Coffey goal after he was set up by Paddy Murphy. A third-quarter pair of goals by Clonoulty’s Thomas Butler ensured a gripping finish where the North team just held on.
Nenagh needed a win here to make the last sixteen and it showed in their approach which was full of running and chasing and harrying. They really stretched the Clonoulty defence at times. John O’Neill, who got his red card from the previous game rescinded on appeal, was in fine form while Tommy Heffernan was a stand-out player for the winners. These two sides will be in the shake-up at the business end of the season.
Nenagh’s victory meant that Templederry were out of luck in this group being squeezed out on score differential. Ultimately their failure to rack up a bigger winning margin against whipping-boys, Ballina, cost them, as well as that controversial one-point reversal to Clonoulty. Incidentally Adrian Ryan got his suspension from that Clonoulty game reduced on appeal though further fall-out from the referee’s report is likely to have consequences for the team management. Templederry must now either win the North or hope that either Clonoulty or Nenagh win a divisional title to get them back into the last sixteen.
In group two Sarsfields top the pile despite losing heavily to Kildangan at the weekend. The reigning champions had Lar Corbett on board but were without key-man, Paudie Maher, currently hospitalised in Cork. The centre back picked up a minor injury against Upperchurch a week earlier but it quickly developed into a serious infection as his knee ballooned. We’ll all be hoping that it clears well in time for the Munster championship in mid June.
Sarsfields’ heavy defeat by Kildangan managed to edge out Upperchurch on score differential. It’s tough luck on the ‘Church who beat Moycarkey at the weekend but still might not make the last sixteen. In essence they need to either win the Mid for the first time or hope that either Sarsfields or Kildangan take a divisional title in which case they’d be through in their place.
In group three Annacarty’s impressive win over Lorrha leaves them in pole position. Lorrha still have to play Killenaule and the winner there will join the West team in the last sixteen. If Killenaule win they’ll top the section but if Lorrha are successful it will be Eire Og who’ll take top spot. Incidentally there is a prize for taking top position because you then face a bottom tier team whereas the second team faces a divisional champion.
Group four in the top tier sees Kilruane MacDonaghs in control with a perfect record including a substantial win over Drom/Inch last weekend. Incidentally Niall O’Meara picked up an injury in that one. Drom take second place in that group so Borrisoleigh are left hoping for a back door entry to the last sixteen.
In group one of the lower tier J.K. Brackens sent Moyne/Templetuohy tumbling into the relegation race when they were four points superior at the weekend. It’s a result that saves West side, Kickhams, who leaked six goals in a heavy defeat to Carrick Swans on Saturday night. The remaining game in this group is between Brackens and Swans to decide who tops the pile and qualifies for the last sixteen.
Here’s an interesting speculation regarding this group. If Brackens and Swans had played as fixed in round two – the U21 football final caused its deferment – and if Brackens prevailed then they had the group won irrespective of the outcome of the final game against Moyne. With nothing to play for except pride it might have opened the door to a Moyne win, which would have sent Kickhams into the relegation mix. The sequence of games was critical here.
Group two of the lower tier was already decided with Roscrea going through and Holycross facing a relegation play-off. Group three sees Mullinahone into the last sixteen with Toomevara depending on a back-door reprieve; Boherlahan face relegation. In group four Portroe go through with Cappawhite, weekend losers to Silvermines, completing the four-team relegation mix.
That relegation scrap must now await the divisional series because if any of the four wins its division – a most unlikely prospect – then they escape relegation. The draw for the two relegation games will be interesting. I hear Cappawhite would like to draw Boherlahan and I suspect the feeling is mutual unless the Mid team would fancy a skirmish with those pesky neighbours down the road in Holycross. It’s disappointing for Moyne to be in this mix after winning the intermediate just last year.
Speaking of intermediate there’s some interesting outcomes at that level too. Newport appears to be the fancy at this juncture. They whipped Carrick Davins in their opening bout and are unbeaten after three rounds with a massive score differential of sixty-six points. Tim Floyd will probably black me for saying it but the last thing we need is to add another senior side to the North’s present total of fourteen! Still if they’re good enough then good luck to them.
In group two of the intermediate championship Gortnahoe top the pile followed by St. Mary’s. Group three sees Sarsfields leading the way while group four has Sean Treacys ahead of Ballinahinch on score difference.
Incidentally recent seniors, Cashel K.C., Davins and Ballybacon/Grange are all at propping up the bases of their respective groups, though the Carrick side has only played that one game. Another recent senior side, Golden/Kilfeacle, is just ahead of Ballybacon on score difference. Perhaps it offers a significant comment on our senior standard while also illustrating why teams dispute relegation so stubbornly – once you go down it can be a long way back. Two intermediate teams will be relegated to junior for 2016; after three consecutive defeats Cashel K.C. would need to start winning if they’re to avoid that nightmare scenario.
In other news it was sad to hear of that horrific shine break suffered by Waterford’s Padraic Mahony in a local club fixture. He’s unlikely to see action in this year’s championship which is a massive loss to the Deise. If there’s one player more than another that Derek McGrath needs it’s surely his centre forward. Apart from his contribution to general play he’s arguably the top free-taker in the game. Hopefully his recovery will be speedy and complete.
Finally the passing of Tom Woulfe last week just shy of his one-hundredth birthday will probably mean nothing to younger generations but for others the name instantly registers. For decades he was a tireless campaigner against the infamous ban until its removal in 1971. He then continued the fight against other bans and I’m sure he must have delighted in the more enlightened, self-confident GAA which emerged in recent times. He helped drag the GAA out of the dark ages and for that we owe him a huge debt. May he rest in peace.
By Jonathan Cullen Thu 14th May
