Hurling Championship

[shannonbanks14]

Fair play Kinnityman for callin the Rynaghs v Belmont match right. Credit to Belmont, but as someone else said Rynaghs have really made a bags of it.We have a very strong panel with skillful hurlers who should be coming of age,but we lack leaders. Offaly need rynaghs to come back as a force and hopefully theres a massive reverse performance v Coolderry.Intermediate v Ballinamere a 50/50 game as are alot of the other fixtures in that grade.

[Plain of the Herbs]

This was a snoozefest from start to finish. A measure of the intensity was that it took ten minutes for the first free to be awarded, that to Shamrocks and which probably should have gone the other way. Clareen were awarded their only free of the entire match after 24 minutes. Similarly, it took 12 second-half minutes for Rahan to win their first free of the half (and that awarded when I thought Derek Molloy was barging), and Rahan were awarded eight frees overall.

Clareen dominated the early stages and scored the first four points of the match. Alan O'Connell was unable to get enough distance into his puckout given his grip-changing strike and consequently his team were always on the back foot. Still, such was the lethargy throughout, I felt if Rahan could keep in touching distance they were capable of overtaking Clareen late on.

That all changed after 17 minutes when, with Clareen leading 0-6 to 0-1, James Scully got in for the first of his two goals. From then on there was only going to be one winner, Scully bagged his second goal shortly before half-time. Clareen led 2-13 to 0-4 at half-time, by which stage all six forwards, a midfielder and a wing-back had scored.

Barry Bergin and James Mulrooney (the latter making his return from injury) came on at midfield at half-time. Both scored, Bergin three points, Mulrooney a goal, and Michael John Corrigan also came off the bench to score a goal. Rahan, who seemed to bring just 17 players, had Ciarán Buckley strangely at full-forward. Buckley scrambled a goal, and Derek Molloy buried a goal from a penalty (twice, that is, it had to be retaken after a load of defenders took a leaf from Meath full-back Mick Lyons against Dublin in 1991 were within hooking distance of Molloy).

Leaving aside the lethargy, this was a different Clareen to the one we saw previously. There was much more team play, lots of handpassing and developing the play. Previously Clareen’s method was to beat the ball as far as possible in the general direction of Joseph Bergin. Seán Coughlan is blossoming. Joseph Bergin was none too pleased with some of the Rahan chopping on his hand. Dermot mooney's one-handed method of dealing with a dropping ball will start a row yet.

It probably wasn’t in their best interests to have such a low-intensity match a week before the quarter-final and they might have been better off with a middling-decent challenge match. Still, they’ll give Shinrone loads of it in a weeks time and may well win and reach the semi-final, something they have threatened to do for the last five years.

[Sharp Eye]

Fair play Kinnityman for callin the Rynaghs v Belmont match right. Credit to Belmont, but as someone else said Rynaghs have really made a bags of it.We have a very strong panel with skillful hurlers who should be coming of age,but we lack leaders. .

Are you sure it is not a team manager and selectors that is lacking. St Rynaghs have not had a settled team or made best use of their best players for the past 2 years.

[King Kev]

It's no fluke that Rynaghs are in fourth spot. There where they are on merit. Belmont and Shinrone had easy wins over them . They struggled to beat a depleted Birr side despite having an extra man for over 40 minutes. Two soft goals was the difference between them and Drumcullen. I can't see anybody on there bench who's gonna make any difference for them. It's alright winning all these minors but on reflection there were good solid teams with no real stand out hurlers . Coolderry will put an end to there campaign on Sunday I have no doubt. I always admired Rynaghs down the years and they were a major reason why Offaly hurling reached such heights. But there well off winning a senior championship at the moment.

[lusmagh]

Monday 27th August
Division 2 Hurling League
Killavilla v Kilcormac/K Killavilla M Kirwan 7.00 pm
Coolderry v Birr Coolderry D Cooke 7.00 pm

Tuesday 28th August
Minor Football Championship
St Vincents v Na Fianna Cappincur N Cooney 7.00 pm
Division 3 Hurling League
Coolderry v Shamrocks Coolderry M Kirwan 7.00 pm

Wednesday 29th August
Minor Hurling Championship
Ballinamere Gaels v Seir Kieran Clara M Walsh 7.00 pm
Birr v CRC Gaels Birr T Carroll 7.00 pm
St Rynaghs v Kinnitty Banagher A Ryan 7.00 pm
Minor Football Championship
Edenderry v Ferbane Edenderry C Groome 7.00 pm
St Broughans v Ballycumber/T Bracknagh P Pierce 7.00 pm

Thursday 30th August
Division 3 Football League
Edenderry v Cappincur Edenderry C Groome 7.00 pm
Ballinagar v Daingean Ballinagar D Walsh 7.00 pm
Rhode v Ballycommon Rhode J O Reilly 7.00 pm
Ferbane v Tubber Ferbane C Dwyer 7.00 pm

Friday 31st August
Minor Football Championship
Gracefield v St Rynaghs Gracefield J Mc Keown 6.45 pm
Shamrocks v DER Gaels Mucklagh P Jordan 6.45 pm
Kilcormac/K v Tullamore Kilcormac M Walsh 6.45 pm
DER Gaels v Rhode Og Pullough C Dwyer 6.45 pm

Saturday 1st September
Aidan Bracken Building Design Senior Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Brosna Gaels v Birr O C P M Kirwan 4.30 pm
Linesmen. B Gavin, N Flynn.
Kilcormac/K v Belmont O C P B Gavin 6.00 pm
Linesmen. M Kirwan, S Fleming.
Aidan Bracken Building Design Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter/Final
Coolderry v Carraig/Riverstown Rath M Walsh 3.00 pm
Ballinamere v St Rynaghs Kinnitty D Cooke 3.00 pm
Aidan Bracken Building Design Junior A Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Kinnitty v Edenderry Killeigh N Flynn 3.00 pm
Aidan Bracken Building Design Junior B Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Killurin v Gracefield Geashill N Cooney 7.00
Division 4 Football League
Walsh Island v St Brigids Walsh Island C Groome 6.00 pm

Sunday 2nd September
Aidan Bracken Building Design Senior Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Seir Kieran v Shinrone Birr A Ryan 4.30 pm
Coolderry v St Rynaghs Birr D Cooke 6.00 pm
Aidan Bracken Building Design Senior Hurling Championship Relegation Playoff
Drumcullen v Tullamore Kinnitty C Groome 1.00 pm
Aidan Bracken Building Design Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Lusmagh v Birr Kinnitty T Carroll 11.30 pm
Kilcormac/K v Killurin O C P N Cooney 1.00 pm
Linesmen, P Pierce, E Dunne.
Aidan Bracken Building Design Junior A Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Seir Kieran v Killavilla Carraig P Freeman 12 noon
Shinrone v Coolderry Rath D Cooke 1.00 pm
Ballinamere v Kilcormac/K O C P S Fleming 11 30 pm
Aidan Bracken Building Design Junior B Hurling Championship Quarter/Finals
Killeigh v Kinnitty Rath J Mc Keown 11.30 pm
Tullamore Court Hotel Junior A Football Championship Playoff
Clonmore Harps v Ferbane Ballycommon N Cooney 6.00 pm
(extra time if necessary)
Division 3 Football League
Ballinagar v Daingean Ballinagar C Costello 12 noon
Ballycommon v Killeigh Ballycommon S Fleming 6.00 pm
Division 4 Football League
Bracknagh v Raheen Bracknagh J O Reilly 12 noon
Walsh Island v St Brigids Walsh Island P Pierce 12 noon

Weekend of September 8th/9th
Tullamore Court Hotel Junior B Football Championships Semi/Finals
Tubber v Raheen
Tullamore v Durrow

[Plain of the Herbs]

They're on late . . .

Lusmagh v Birr Kinnitty T Carroll 11.30 pm

Killeigh v Kinnitty Rath J Mc Keown 11.30 pm

Also, from the 'General Guidelines' section of the Master Fixfures list - "Extra time if necessary in all Quarter Final games in Championships and Relegation games". I note the fixtures list makes no note of 'extra time if necessary'.

With this in mind, it should be noted that the Tullamore v Drumcullen SHC match is a regular group match, and not a 'Relegation play-off' as is noted on the week's fixtures list.

[Plain of the Herbs]

September. The childer back in school, the Indian summer on the doorstep, club knockout stages are here. Something for nearly everyone this weekend with quarter-finals in Senior, Intermediate and both Junior grades. And two weeks earlier than last year, at that. Defeat will usher in the winter for the losers. Victory will leave the winners 60 minutes away from County Final day.


BIRR v BROSNA GAELS

Birr and Brosna Gaels get the weekend underway. Birr will win, as everyone knows, but long term, Brosna Gaels may be winners in spirit. Particularly so if the Gaels put up a good show. To do this, they need to be more clinical in front of goal – too many chances went a-begging against Coolderry, as the champions’ goal led a charmed life.

Brosna Gaels will be physically stronger than many of the Birrmen, and will certainly test Birr’s U21 players, of whom there will be four anyway. It was Rory Hanniffy, Paul Cleary and Barry Whelahan who carried Birr against Shinrone – beat them on smartness really, though the trio (particularly the former two) who had the real physical strength that a young Shinrone couldn’t cope with.

That will see birr through to the semi-final, though Birr could do with a big performance from Dylan Hayden and Seán Ryan – a rising tide such as that inspiration would really lift the Birr boat. With or without that, Birr should win by around 2-16 to 0-10.


KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY v BELMONT

Even if both were at full strength, K-K would probably be the most likely to win this and progress. Colin Egan’s absence through suspension makes Belmont’s task nigh on impossible. Yes, Belmont beat Tullamore while missing four, but then they weren’t missing their ballwinner-in-chief and they were fired by a perceived injustice regarding fixtures.

On further analysis, Belmont beat St Rynagh’s by scoring goals in twos, and at opportune times. They nearly beat K-K last year too, Colin Egan causing mayhem at square’s edge, scoring a goal and winning a couple of penalties and a close-in free. Ger Healion wasn’t full-back then though. He is now.

At the other end, Belmont’s defence should do alright. David Kenny will gather any and all loose, misdirected ball, whilst John Egan and James Murphy are having good years. The K-k attack is still huffing and puffing and just plain inconsistent.

Heel of the hunt, Belmont don’t score enough. They may well win it if they can keep the goals out, and Kearns makes a fine save in every match. They’ll need to restrict K-K to about 0-13 to win. My guess is they won’t, that K-K will prevail, in the region of 2-15 to 1-12.


SHINRONE v CLAREEN

This is Shinrone’s fifth successive year to reach the quarter-final. It’s Clareen’s fourth. Neither have won a quarter-final in that time, so someone is going to make progress here and could well be set up for a decade. Similarly, neither can really afford to lose, perhaps moreso Clareen who are that little bit older.

Tom Carroll is still US-tied, though James Mulrooney made a return from long-term injury last week against Rahan. Their half-back line is classy, though up front if Joe Bergin doesn’t do it (as in, scoring 2-12 or the like), no-one else will.

Shinrone have more forward options. Michael Cordial in the mood is still a joy to watch. Dónal Morkan is in scoring form and though Daniel Hoctor looks uncomfortable with his back to goal, he is still a classy hurler. Shinrone’s half-back line are good, even allowing for an unfortunate injury to Joe Cleary. The corner-backs should hold their men too. Which leaves Willie Comerford on Joe Bergin. Comerford is a traditional ‘edge of the square’ full-back. He’ll match Bergin for everything except speed. Which is a real problem. Bergin to score 1-9 in a 1-12 to 0-13 Clareen win.


COOLDERRY v ST RYNAGH'S

St Rynagh’s made history for all the wrong reasons this year – losing to Shinrone for the first time in over 50 years, losing to Belmont for the first time ever. They couldn’t beat Coolderry, could they? Thing is, they might.

They need to pick their team right though. Hint: pick Stephen Quirke at 13, Joey O’Connor at 8 or 10, perhaps Simon Lyons at midfield, Diarmuid Horan at 6 – or somewhere in the centre where he can take control of things. Coolderry wouldn’t be blessed with pace in defence.

It is at this stage of the year (for the last two years anyway) when Coolderry produce their flying starts, opening the scoring with a goal or two. Question is, how will the psychological impact of hurling for well over 12 months without a break, being Leinster champions, effect the need for such lightening starts. In other words, what if they don’t start well. Kevin Brady will surely start on the right hand side, whether at midfield or half-back. That will cut down St Rynaghs’ puckout options.

It’s difficult to see St Rynagh’s bypassing the Bradys, or of gaining enough possession to run at them and draw fouls. Coolderry to win, in the region of 1-18 to 0-14.

[Slieve Bloom Man]

September. The childer back in school, the Indian summer on the doorstep, club knockout stages are here. Something for nearly everyone this weekend with quarter-finals in Senior, Intermediate and both Junior grades. And two weeks earlier than last year, at that. Defeat will usher in the winter for the losers. Victory will leave the winners 60 minutes away from County Final day.


BIRR v BROSNA GAELS

Birr and Brosna Gaels get the weekend underway. Birr will win, as everyone knows, but long term, Brosna Gaels may be winners in spirit. Particularly so if the Gaels put up a good show. To do this, they need to be more clinical in front of goal – too many chances went a-begging against Coolderry, as the champions’ goal led a charmed life.

Brosna Gaels will be physically stronger than many of the Birrmen, and will certainly test Birr’s U21 players, of whom there will be four anyway. It was Rory Hanniffy, Paul Cleary and Barry Whelahan who carried Birr against Shinrone – beat them on smartness really, though the trio (particularly the former two) who had the real physical strength that a young Shinrone couldn’t cope with.

That will see birr through to the semi-final, though Birr could do with a big performance from Dylan Hayden and Seán Ryan – a rising tide such as that inspiration would really lift the Birr boat. With or without that, Birr should win by around 2-16 to 0-10.


KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY v BELMONT

Even if both were at full strength, K-K would probably be the most likely to win this and progress. Colin Egan’s absence through suspension makes Belmont’s task nigh on impossible. Yes, Belmont beat Tullamore while missing four, but then they weren’t missing their ballwinner-in-chief and they were fired by a perceived injustice regarding fixtures.

On further analysis, Belmont beat St Rynagh’s by scoring goals in twos, and at opportune times. They nearly beat K-K last year too, Colin Egan causing mayhem at square’s edge, scoring a goal and winning a couple of penalties and a close-in free. Ger Healion wasn’t full-back then though. He is now.

At the other end, Belmont’s defence should do alright. David Kenny will gather any and all loose, misdirected ball, whilst John Egan and James Murphy are having good years. The K-k attack is still huffing and puffing and just plain inconsistent.

Heel of the hunt, Belmont don’t score enough. They may well win it if they can keep the goals out, and Kearns makes a fine save in every match. They’ll need to restrict K-K to about 0-13 to win. My guess is they won’t, that K-K will prevail, in the region of 2-15 to 1-12.


SHINRONE v CLAREEN

This is Shinrone’s fifth successive year to reach the quarter-final. It’s Clareen’s fourth. Neither have won a quarter-final in that time, so someone is going to make progress here and could well be set up for a decade. Similarly, neither can really afford to lose, perhaps moreso Clareen who are that little bit older.

Tom Carroll is still US-tied, though James Mulrooney made a return from long-term injury last week against Rahan. Their half-back line is classy, though up front if Joe Bergin doesn’t do it (as in, scoring 2-12 or the like), no-one else will.

Shinrone have more forward options. Michael Cordial in the mood is still a joy to watch. Dónal Morkan is in scoring form and though Daniel Hoctor looks uncomfortable with his back to goal, he is still a classy hurler. Shinrone’s half-back line are good, even allowing for an unfortunate injury to Joe Cleary. The corner-backs should hold their men too. Which leaves Willie Comerford on Joe Bergin. Comerford is a traditional ‘edge of the square’ full-back. He’ll match Bergin for everything except speed. Which is a real problem. Bergin to score 1-9 in a 1-12 to 0-13 Clareen win.


COOLDERRY v ST RYNAGH'S

St Rynagh’s made history for all the wrong reasons this year – losing to Shinrone for the first time in over 50 years, losing to Belmont for the first time ever. They couldn’t beat Coolderry, could they? Thing is, they might.

They need to pick their team right though. Hint: pick Stephen Quirke at 13, Joey O’Connor at 8 or 10, perhaps Simon Lyons at midfield, Diarmuid Horan at 6 – or somewhere in the centre where he can take control of things. Coolderry wouldn’t be blessed with pace in defence.

It is at this stage of the year (for the last two years anyway) when Coolderry produce their flying starts, opening the scoring with a goal or two. Question is, how will the psychological impact of hurling for well over 12 months without a break, being Leinster champions, effect the need for such lightening starts. In other words, what if they don’t start well. Kevin Brady will surely start on the right hand side, whether at midfield or half-back. That will cut down St Rynaghs’ puckout options.

It’s difficult to see St Rynagh’s bypassing the Bradys, or of gaining enough possession to run at them and draw fouls. Coolderry to win, in the region of 1-18 to 0-14.

Excellent stuff again there Plain! Would have to agree with 3 of those predictions. Brosna G could really put it up to Birr if Birr aren't focused. Birr still should win. Thought Belmont could beat KK but Colin Egan is too much of a loss. Coolderry should have too much for Rynaghs who will throw the kitchen sink at them for 40 mins and then Coolderry will pull away easily as Rynaghs run out of steam.
For me, Shinrone and Clareen is definitely the game of the weekend. Clareen should at this stage be challenging for County titles but they're not and if Shinrone can keep Joe Bergin quiet they will win. Shinrone to just shade it.

[joe bloggs]

3 point win for birr in the first game, 2-9 to 0-12

[joe bloggs]

big win for kk, 3-20 to 0-11

[townman]

have to say that was the worst display of 60 minutes hurling i have seen in the last 23 years from Birr pure dire up front
not much to say but you could give a mention to Birrs backs Paul Cleary, Rory Hanniffy, young Emmett Nolan held his own
in the fullback line.

Sean Ryan is the only forward that should get a mention as he was the only one Birr had, Simon Whelahan way off the pace for centre forward.
we have no one to target for the puck outs or to win ball in the air since Gary Hanniffy left this has showed up big time this year.

Birr looked unfit with Mick Cleere and Dylan Hayden the two Whelahans don't have the legs anymore, Good to see Brian Watkins back as he came on
just before half time as a blood sub for Eoin Hayes who didn't come back on again.

hats off to Brosna gaels who at times in the second half were the better side and had a few bad wides during the game, also let in a soft goal
in the first few minutes from a shot from midfield from Dylan Hayden that went the whole way to the net, but they got down to work and were
unlucky o be 2-3 to -4 down at half time.

theres some work to be done for Birr to get back into the county final, if that display tonight is put on again for the semil matter who we hurl we will be beaten out the gate, for a forward point of few the backs were good with Watkins and JP O'Meara who also hurl well tonight in the corner.

seen on the programme this evening number 19 on the subs was Brian Whelahan even doe i didn't see him from the stand if he was there.

[Plain of the Herbs]

A cakewalk was on the cards after ten minutes. Dylan Hayden’s effort from 50 metres went all the wau to the Gaels’ net in the second minute (a goalkeeping error, though Seán Ryan in the square distracted goalkeeper John Ryan). Shortly after, Seán Ryan outsprinted Danny Kelleher and fired a brilliant goal. Brosna Gaels defence had no answer to the pace of Ryan, Seán T O’Connor and Colm Mulrooney, while too many hurried clearances were hit down Paul Cleary’s channel. Ryan had scored two points before his goal. He might have hit several more but for poor aiming at the target.

Gaels did react, moving Kelleher to centre-back mid way through the first half, where Kelleher hurled well for the remainder of the game. Around the same time, Birr just stopped hurling, and what followed was a lacklustre game, with little or no excitement. Birr, having led 2-2 to 0-1, led 2-3 to 0-5 at half-time.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, just score-for-score, Seán Ryan picking off two more points, while Barry Harding was hitting more ball than anyone else on the field and Barry Whelahan showing just why ground hurling is futile. Thing with the Birr clearances was, they were being cleared twice as quick by Gaels’ defence where Danny Kelleher was cleaning up. Alan Lynam processed alot of ball, so did Tom Spain, while Jason Devery did much to stop Paul Cleary clearing when the Pullagh man moved to full-forward.

It was something like 2-8 to 0-8 with then minutes to go, then quickfire scored made it 2-8 to 0-10. Paul Molloy broke the Gaels’ flow with what should have been an inspirational point, but Gaels continued to press. Gaels did narrow the gap to three, they had two half-chances of goals in the dying moments but ran out of time.

Had Brosna Gaels believed, they would have won this. Birr advance, but in the fullness of time and when the initial disappointment has worn off, Brosna Gaels will draw much more from this. One for the future. Absolutely.

[Plain of the Herbs]

This was a game of two halves, a first half which didn’t reflect the final score of 3-20 to 0-11, and a second half when it most emphatically did. K-k got off to the best possible start with a Daniel Currams goal after five minutes. After that, Belmont (hurling with the wind) steadied and won a good quantity of ball, gaining turnovers through some good tackling. Belmont won a few frees, and opened up the K-K full-back line about six times in the first half.

They elected to take their points each time though and David Cox scored three points from full-forward with Alan and Paul Egan also causing bother for chris Guinan, Ger Healion and Alan McConville. Belmont twice led by a single point, but K-K finished the half better and led 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time. Much of Belmont’s trouble came from some handling difficulties experienced by Ciarán Kearns in goal. He mishandled about five times and K-K took encouragement from this.

Trevor Fletcher scored a goal early in the second half and from then on it was a procession. Peter Geraghty raced in for a third goal late in the game, Belmont only scored three times in the second half, the only occasions they crossed the end-line in that half. Hard to know about K-K. The full-back line was in all sorts of bother in the first half. Other than that, they were more-or-less assured possession from either puck-out.

[Plain of the Herbs]

A serious issue has arisen regarding the referee for the Shinrone v Seir Kieran quarter-final. Aidan Ryan, who is a Lusmagh club member, was initially appointed to referee this fixture. Clareen objected, citing the fact that Aidan is from the same club as Shinrone manager Joachim Kelly. The board then appointed Tony Carroll as referee.

Thing is, Tony Carroll has close family connections with Clareen and with the Seir Kieran club. Tony Carroll’s wife is a daughter of Seir Kieran club patriarch Tony Murphy. That makes Tony Carroll a brother-in-law of Seir Kieran centre half-back Éanna Murphy.

Surely this appointment is wrong. The perception in Shinrone is that the board have been ‘hood-winked’ here, given Tony Murphy’s long association with the board. I’m not suggesting this is the case, but perception is everything and it leaves a bad under-current before what should be a great hurling occasion.

The family connection with a player is surely closer than merely being a neighbour and club-mate. Surely something should be done here before it is too late.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Lusmagh 5-25 Birr 2-6, full-time. Nothing more to add, really.