Senior Hurling Championship round 3

[Plain of the Herbs]

Halfway through the senior hurling championship – twelve matches gone and eleven to go. This week half the clubs will check out of SHC towers.
Kinnitty were probably the most impressive performers in the last round, followed by Tullamore, Coolderry (1st half) and Birr. On the other hand, Kilcormac, ’Rynagh’s, Lusmagh, Shinrone and Drumcullen were all poor.

One interesting point to note, that of only one sending off in the twelve senior matches so far.

With the continuing wet weather choice of venues will be crucial and preference should be given to the grounds which can take a drop of rain. Herewith some thoughts on round three.

Coolderry v Shamrocks
Last meeting: Coolderry 2-14 Shamrocks 0-10 (quarter final 2007)
Two previous meetings – Coolderry won both.

Coolderry were on fire in the first half against St. Rynagh’s. Their use of the ball and their making of space was wonderful though after the concession of two goals were either pinned in their own half or packed the defence – take your pick. Their line out looks impressive with Joe Brady filling the ‘double on the ball and don’t let the centre-back catch’ role he filled for the county team in the qualifiers. Murray and Parlon covered oceans of ground from midfield and the Corcorans were impressive in the full back line.

Shamrocks won’t test them – indeed with their intermediate team out it will give them a chance to empty the bench in the last quarter. Some interesting individual duels – Neville Coughlan v Paddy Teehan stands out and if Kevin Teehan can come out on top in his duel with Derek Molloy it will mark the Coolderry defence down as a formidable unit.

Coolderry to win.

Kilcormac Killoughey v St. Rynagh’s
Last meeting- Kilcormac Killoughey 1-14 St. Rynagh’s 1-5 (quarter final replay 2007)
Last five meetings – ’Rynagh’s 2, K/K 1, 2 draws.

Those who enjoy a close contest will enjoy this though purists won’t. This will be a tough, dour low scoring fight-to-the-death.

Up to last week Kilcormac Killoughey would have been warm favourites for this but they underperformed to a serious degree last time out against Shamrocks. Their attack failed to function with only Daniel Currams and Peter healion (in seperate five minute spells each) making headway and they’ve yet to discover the flair they attacked with last year. If Ger Healion is unavailable they could be in trouble. They also need Ciaran Slevin to make a much greater contribution.

If Kilcormac were bad against Shamrocks, ’Rynagh’s were worse against Coolderry. Their attack didn’t function either and their defence was torn asunder and they produced probably their worst ever performance. They’re all decent hurlers but they don’t add up to a good team.

Hard to see who’ll prevail here and with both defences on top it could well come down to a battle of the freetakers. This being the case it’s Diarmuid Horan to prevail over Ciaran Slevin.

Tullamore v Lusmagh
Last meeting – Lusmagh 4-13 Tullamore 2-13 (group round 3, 2005)
Last 5 meetings – Lusmagh 3 Tullamore 2.

When the draw was made this was marked out as the match to decide the second spot in the group but Tullamore’s sensational win over Birr, coupled with Lusmagh’s ‘draw’ with Drumcullen put paid to that. Tullamore were impressive against Drumcullen although it took them forty-five minutes to put the ‘Drums’ away. Still they have alot of the attributes you need, a good defence and two beavers in midfield. Dooley is the star of the attack though if marked by Brian or Kevin Bermingmam he could struggle for space. He’s well supported by Kerrigan, Martin, O’Grady and Keane though. If Tullamore do have an Achilles heel it’s in goal.

Lusmagh can’t qualify unless they win here and Drumcullen beat Birr (never gonna happen). As a result they may not be fully tuned in and could be in trouble if they fall behind early on. On the other hand, talk of a win being a ‘shock’ will sting them. They’ll have more pace than Druncullen though and will test Tullamore especially if David Moran can negative Francis Kerrigan.

Tullamore are on an upward spiral though and should win.

Birr v Drumcullen
Last meeting – Birr 2-20 Drumcullen 1-12 (group round 1, 2005)
Last 5 meetings – Birr 4, 1 draw.

When researching previous results I was amazed to see Drumcullen actually drew with Birr nine years ago!

There’s a new look to Birr this autumn with the introduction of Barry Harding, Adrian Guinan and Brian Lonergan while Neil Rogers has also returned to the scene – all of which will add a badly needed freshness the four-in-a-row chasing Birr.

Drumcullen should have no hope here.

Kinnitty v Belmont
First championship meeting.

Kinnitty have been the form team of the championship so far and while there were mitigating circumstances in their win over Clareen, their demolition of Shinrone in the worst of weather was impressive. Rigney was imperious at centre back and the attack fired well with Stephen Molloy leading the attack and the two Kealeys keeping the scores clocking up. Their two matches so far have been against two teams who hurl an orthodox style and this is their first match against a very mobile attack though any lack of height won’t be tested here.

David Kenny will test Stephen Molloy’s leading of the attack and Kinnitty’s reaction will be interesting if Molloy’s influence is nullified. The key clash for them though is whether Liam Browne can curb Odhran Kealey.

Kinnitty’s half back line should deny Belmont the required possession with Kinnitty to clock up the scored at the other end which will see them through.

Seir Kieran v Shinrone
Last meeting – Shinrone 1-8 Shinrone 0-10
Last 5 meetings – Shinrone 3 Seir Kieran 2.

The pressure is on Shinrone her as a win will see them through. They’ve the assurance of three championship wins over the Clareenmen in the last four years. They were terrible last time out and won’t win here without an improvement on their Kinnitty performance. Their overall spiral isn’t exactly upward either.

Clareen have rightly gone with a youth policy and they will need to be patient. The key clash for them is Joseph bergin’s duel with Derek Morkan.
Bergin and Clareen to prevail in a tense, low scoring encounter.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Tullamore, lining out without Cillian Bane and Peter Kelly won this in the first half when their forwards hit form and they scored at will. Gearóid O’Grady, playing at left half forward was particularly sharp while, at the other end, Lusmagh struggled to score, though Adrian Lynch’s goal reduced the deficit somewhat and Tullamore led 1-7 to 1-2 at half time.

The second half was a different story. The Tullamore forwards completely lost their shape and the Lusmagh half backs and midfield won a huge amount of possession. Fintan Kelly did well in the unfamiliar centre half back role and Eoin Quinlan also hurled an amount of ball when moved to wing back. For Tullamore, centre half back Brendan Dagg hurled particularly deep in front of the stand-in full back while John Kelly stayed out around the ‘65’. Kelly won some good possession though the scores were hard to come by though and Aidan Hanrahan’s miss when unmarked having been set up by a delightful Gary Kelly stick-pass typified their fortunes.

Tullamore were stuck on 1-10 for long stages as Lusmagh got back to within three but ultimately lacked the belief that would have got them closer and two late points saw Tullamore home.

This was not a convincing performance by Tullamore who look like they might have already peaked. They now await the draw for the knockout stages where they will hope to get a bye to the semi-finals though on this performance they will certainly struggle against Coolderry or Kinnitty.

Lusmagh are safe from relegation for this year. They didn’t look sharp at all here, or against Birr last time out. Their first touch was poor having been very sharp gagainst Drumcullen back in April which was strange, given that teams would look to be peaking around now.

Elsewhere, at the same time Drumcullen were giving Birr loads of it, actually leading at half time and holding that lead until the three quarter mark when Birr took over and eventually won 1-23 to 1-14.

It’s tough on Drumcullen to have to face the relegation series given that they were denied a valid win against Lusmagh. Perhaps on this basis they might be spared in the board-room at a later date? Relegation in these circumstances would be rough justice indeed.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Coolderry had no difficulties here. They were strong in defence and slick in attack and led 0-11 to 0-3 at half time, Brian Carroll hitting four points from full forward as he was served with a supply of delightful low ball, just what a forward wants, and Danny Masterson two. Derek Molloy won a penalty just before half time but his poor shot was saved.

Carroll added two more points early in the second half and when a Cathal Parlon line ball slipped past Alan O’Connell and into the net they could afford to take Carroll off with Joe and Kevin Brady following soon after. Shamrocks two goals came from 20 metre frees, two bullets hit by Derek Molloy reminiscent of Micheál Conneely or Waterford’s Paul Flynn.

Up the road in Kinnitty, St. Rynagh’s, wind assisted led Kilcormac 1-9 to 1-3 at half time but three second-half goals saw K/K win 4-8 to 1-12 and qualify for the quarter final.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Shinrone reached the quarter final with a one point win over Clareen in Carrig last night. Kevin Reid’s goal gave them an early edge but Brian Dunne’s goal from a Joseph Bergin cross had his side back to within a point at half time, 1-7 to 1-6.

The sides were level five times in an enthralling second half. Brian Dunne’s second goal put Clareen ahead again but it was Michael Cordial, who scored six points from play, five in the second half, who won it for Shinrone with a point from distance with four minutes to go.

Elsewhere, Kinnitty beat Belmont 1-20 to 1-18 in a match where the lead changed hands several times to secure top spot in the group.


The quarter final draw was made afterwards and Coolderry and Kinnitty were handed automatic semi-final spots- fitting as they have been the two form teams so far. Birr play Shinrone and Kilcormac/Killoughey have a chance to avenge last year’s defeat to Tullamore in the other, presumably to be played in a fortnight.