Hurling Championship

[hoohaa]

I don't think its as easy to call as that. Im sure shinrone belmont or brosna gales are capable of making the semi. With the exception of colderry this is an open championship

[Plain of the Herbs]

The fourth round of the SHC is split into two lots – three matches on Thursday evening and the remaining three matches on Sunday. Possibly the tie of the round is the Shinrone v Belmont one. Who’d have thunk it?

Here’s a few thoughts on Thursday evening’s offering.

Brosna Gaels v Seir Kieran.

A two-point defeat at the hands of Kilcormac-Killoughey is not a major setback for Brosna Gaels. I still think K-K are the most likely to end Coolderry’s year, if it is to be ended before October, but that’s for another day. And as for Brosna Gaels, it’s always difficult to hold on hurling into the wind when your opponents have momentum built up.

Clareen were disappointing against Coolderry. Granted they were missing Tom Carroll and James Mulrooney from their attack, but there was no method to their play. Everything bad to be driven as far and as direct as possible. That’s all very well if the ball is being won inside, but it wasn’t. Handpasses and short passes are heavily restricted, and two short passes on the one possession are only very occasional. Dermot Mooney could be suspended.

Joseph Bergin’s role will be key for them. They should try him at full-forward for some spell of the game and see if he can grab a goal. It won’t be a high scoring game and a goal could win it. Two goals certainly will.

Gaels are doughty and will play as a team, running, supporting, picking out players. Hurling snobs will decry such modern methods – Gaels should use this to their advantage, and Offaly hurling needs them. Danny Kelleher will clean up any poorly-directed ball all day. Alan Lynam and Tom Spain are a better midfield than Clareen’s. Jason Devery will catch ball all day. Gaels should win, something like 2-10 to 0-14.

Birr v Tullamore

Where are all Birr’s hurlers gone? That is the question of the weekend. With a big chunk gone out of their team, and used six of last year’s Intermediate team in the recent defeat to St Rynagh’s. They face Tullamore who have lost all their matches so far, so this should be easy, right?

Wrong. Tullamore won’t hold any inhibitions facing Birr, much less a depleted Birr. And Tullamore need to win this or they are out of this years championship. Still, Tullamore did strange things against Shinrone. They played a seventh defender for the entire second half and allowed Shinrone put two defenders on Shane Dooley. And Kevin Martin put himself on when the game was very much alive. That might be alright but Martin was clearly unfit – the Shinrone manager, 18 years older, looked fitter and trimmer.

Still, Stephen Egan dominated at full-back and Damien Fox gets better and better. If they can find a way to play Mark Conlon at 6, if Declan Hogan and Ger Treacy can give Shane Dooley a dig out in attack, get to the ball first and draw frees, and if Tullamore can rediscover the spirit, they can win this in a low-scoring match, something like 1-11 to 0-11.


St Rynagh’s v Drumcullen

Drumcullen were puck useless against Belmont, unable to cope with Belmont’s forwards’ movement and pace.

St Rynagh’s continue to make changes in a bid to find the right formula. Not just tweaking, it involves a change or two in every line. Beating Birr will be a huge boost. The key to playing a bruising Drumcullen is to move the ball quickly.

Rynagh’s will be a bit more static than Belmont but I expect they’ll still move the ball quickly and avoid trouble. They won’t learn much but they’ll still win well, something like 2-16 to 0-10 or thereabouts.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Radio3 are saying Saturday evening's matches are all now at 5pm? Is this the case? And if so, why?

[allsorts]

Radio3 are saying Saturday evening's matches are all now at 5pm? Is this the case? And if so, why?

according to the fixtures email... its "primarily to avoid clashing with attractive televised matches"

[kinnittyman]

Birr and Clareen both won tonight. Both games finished 3-16 to 1-13.

As far as I know that leaves Birr's group done and dusted with a round of games to spare. Shinrone, St. Rynagh's, Birr and Belmont to go through. The only question is in what order?

Clareen beating Brosna Gaels tonight means that if Kinnitty get a win against Coolderry or Kilcormac, Brosna Gaels have to get at least a draw against Coolderry.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Thoughts of Sunday’s matches

Belmont v Shinrone, 3pm at Banagher
These two have one thing in common – both have beaten Tullamore when depleted and against all the odds. The winner here will most likely finish at least third and so avoid Coolderry in the quarter-final.
They should have made the quarter-finals in each of the last two years and under-achieved. The win over Tullamore has had a good effect on the Belmont mood and they have learned that they are quarter-final material The return of the holidaying quartet enabled them move David Cox to full-forward, from which Cox tormented Drumcullen with his movement. Indeed, the whole full-forward line of Paul Egan, David Cox and Alan Egan buzzed around, Colin Egan won the puckouts on the right hand side and opened up the opposition defence with a diagonal delivery.

With Shinrone fielding without Daniel Hoctor and Derek Morkan, everyone waited for them to wilt against Tullamore. And waited, and waited. But Shinrone dug in. The half-back line grew stronger as the match went on. Michael Cordial showed his undoubted style, mixed with Diggy nonchalance betimes. The U21s on the side got stuck in. Every loose ball was contested. Conor Cleary excelled in goals. Still unbeaten through ten league and three championship games this year, the Juniors going well in their championship and in the Intermediate league. Shinrone must be buzzing with enthusiasm every time they gather to train or for matches.

Belmont will be a different proposition for Shinrone though – they haven’t met the like of Belmont’s forward movement yet this year. And David Kenny’s reading of the game is so wonderful that Kenny will be underneath every single misdirected or lazy clearance. The tie of the round, a draw will do both. That’s what’ll happen.


Kilcormac-Killoughey v Shamrocks, 6pm at Rath

Kilcormac to win by what they like. ’Nuff said. Move on.

Coolderry v Kinnitty, 7.30pm at Rath

Time was this was a match not to be missed. Time was Kinnitty had James Rigney available to them, and his absence should see Coolderry home. Coolderry have no such worries of players abroad. With Kevin Brady likely to be suspended, Barry Larkin will likely get another chance to impress. Kevin Connolly is still to come back into the team too.

This may be a piquant one too. The Coolderry v Clareen match had a rawness to it, and Loughgiel are crying foul over the treatment meted out to Liam Watson at a tournament match in Birr last weekend. Coolderry need to focus on the hurling. KInnitty’s manager (one of them anyway) wouldn’t be a peacemaker either, if his display on the sideline in the first round against Clareen is anything to go by.

James Rigney’s move to full-forward is an interesting one, and if they’ve a replacement good enough to go in goal then it’s worth a chance. He strikes me as a mobile, rangy forward. It would take the pressure off Stephen Molloy to an extent too. Coolderry won’t lose the unbeaten record here, wherever they lose it.

[joe bloggs]

7 point win for rynaghs this evening
They were about 9 up wind assisted at half time, with the help of the drumcullen keeper who had the misfortune of misjudging a ball that sailed over him into the net.
In the second half they battled back to within 4 points after Shane Molloy blasted a 21 to the net, but rynaghs finished out the game stronger from there in.

[townman]

The fourth round of the SHC is split into two lots – three matches on Thursday evening and the remaining three matches on Sunday. Possibly the tie of the round is the Shinrone v Belmont one. Who’d have thunk it?

Here’s a few thoughts on Thursday evening’s offering.

Brosna Gaels v Seir Kieran.

A two-point defeat at the hands of Kilcormac-Killoughey is not a major setback for Brosna Gaels. I still think K-K are the most likely to end Coolderry’s year, if it is to be ended before October, but that’s for another day. And as for Brosna Gaels, it’s always difficult to hold on hurling into the wind when your opponents have momentum built up.

Clareen were disappointing against Coolderry. Granted they were missing Tom Carroll and James Mulrooney from their attack, but there was no method to their play. Everything bad to be driven as far and as direct as possible. That’s all very well if the ball is being won inside, but it wasn’t. Handpasses and short passes are heavily restricted, and two short passes on the one possession are only very occasional. Dermot Mooney could be suspended.

Joseph Bergin’s role will be key for them. They should try him at full-forward for some spell of the game and see if he can grab a goal. It won’t be a high scoring game and a goal could win it. Two goals certainly will.

Gaels are doughty and will play as a team, running, supporting, picking out players. Hurling snobs will decry such modern methods – Gaels should use this to their advantage, and Offaly hurling needs them. Danny Kelleher will clean up any poorly-directed ball all day. Alan Lynam and Tom Spain are a better midfield than Clareen’s. Jason Devery will catch ball all day. Gaels should win, something like 2-10 to 0-14.

Birr v Tullamore

Where are all Birr’s hurlers gone? That is the question of the weekend. With a big chunk gone out of their team, and used six of last year’s Intermediate team in the recent defeat to St Rynagh’s. They face Tullamore who have lost all their matches so far, so this should be easy, right?

Wrong. Tullamore won’t hold any inhibitions facing Birr, much less a depleted Birr. And Tullamore need to win this or they are out of this years championship. Still, Tullamore did strange things against Shinrone. They played a seventh defender for the entire second half and allowed Shinrone put two defenders on Shane Dooley. And Kevin Martin put himself on when the game was very much alive. That might be alright but Martin was clearly unfit – the Shinrone manager, 18 years older, looked fitter and trimmer.

Still, Stephen Egan dominated at full-back and Damien Fox gets better and better. If they can find a way to play Mark Conlon at 6, if Declan Hogan and Ger Treacy can give Shane Dooley a dig out in attack, get to the ball first and draw frees, and if Tullamore can rediscover the spirit, they can win this in a low-scoring match, something like 1-11 to 0-11.


St Rynagh’s v Drumcullen

Drumcullen were puck useless against Belmont, unable to cope with Belmont’s forwards’ movement and pace.

St Rynagh’s continue to make changes in a bid to find the right formula. Not just tweaking, it involves a change or two in every line. Beating Birr will be a huge boost. The key to playing a bruising Drumcullen is to move the ball quickly.

Rynagh’s will be a bit more static than Belmont but I expect they’ll still move the ball quickly and avoid trouble. They won’t learn much but they’ll still win well, something like 2-16 to 0-10 or thereabouts.

i hope you didn't pop into PP and put money on the teams you picked to win Herbs

[llkj]

Who played well for Birr, Townman? 3-16 is a good score to put up against Tullamore, as their backs are usually tight. Who got the goals?
Was is Dooley scoring mainly for Tullamore?

It leaves that group decided now, which will probably have an effect on the Belmont/Shinrone game. but it could also mean that players are a little less nervous and could be a good open game.

How is the relegation working this year? Is it bottom 2 from each group into a semi-final play off, or is it the team at the bottom of each group into a straight playoff against each other. In that case, the Drumcullen/Tullamore game could be really interesting.

Much needed win for Clareen. B Gaels still have a huge chance of qualifying though. I suppose Sunday will make the next stages a bit clearer.

[keenonsport]

Who played well for Birr, Townman? 3-16 is a good score to put up against Tullamore, as their backs are usually tight. Who got the goals?
Was is Dooley scoring mainly for Tullamore?

Went to this match last night. It was a tame enough affair really. Tullamore didn't strike me as a team who really believed they could pull off the great escape into the quarter finals again this year. The loss against Shinrone, in such a tight game and to lose it at the death like that probably affected them a lot. To answer your questions, DD Dwane grabbed two of the goals and Sean T O'Connor got the other. Two of the goals were scrappy with Dwane and O'Connor sniffing out the chances after Tullamore had failed to clear their lines. One of Dwane's goals was excellent, sidestepped the defender and blasted the ball to the net. Was impressed with him, looks like he's back in some sort of form. Yes, Dooley was Tullamore's main man, he got the goal from a 21 and got ( I think) 2 points from play. Scored a few frees aswell but also missed about 3. He's living off scraps up front on his own and needs help from others around him. Tullamore half-back line hurled reasonably well, Shane Kelly and the chap in the red helmet (sorry don't know his name) had solid games. Overall, the best players on the field were Rory Hanniffy and Paul Cleary - as usual. Barry Whelehan also did a lot of good work at midfield. In the forwards, Dwane was the best. Not many teams will want to face Birr in the quarters. A 9 point win, minus about half a team bodes well for them. If they can get a few more back they will be a serious force again this year.

[lusmagh]

For anyone thinking of attending, please note that our IHC game this evening v K/K will now be played in Banagher.

[uibhfhailiabu]

For anyone thinking of attending, please note that our IHC game this evening v K/K will now be played in Banagher.

And the time is also changed. It's now on at 5.00 instead of 7.30, not that the Offaly GAA website would tell you any of that!

[Plain of the Herbs]

Mark Conlon?
quote="keenonsport"][and the chap in the red helmet (sorry don't know his name) [/quote]

[kinnittyman]

The red helmeted wing back was Niall Houlihan according to the programme.

[lusmagh]

Shamrocks v Kilcormac and Coolderry v Kinnitty double header this evening has been switched to Lusmagh, first game throws in at 6pm.