Round-up: Weekend’s senior club championship action from around the Country:
Antrim
The big three – Cushendall, Loughiel, and Dunloy – have all booked their place in the knock-out stages of the Bathshack Antrim SHC with a round to spare. In Group One, reigning champions Cushendall banged 10 goals past Carey Faughs in a 40 point win while Loughiel defeated Rossa by 4-25 to 3-18. The two teams will now meet in two weeks’ time with an automatic semi-final spot up for grabs.
In Group 2, Dunloy made it two wins from two with a 1-27 to 2-19 victory over St. Enda’s while St. John’s defeated Ballycastle by 2-24 to 2-18. Those results also ensure that the meeting of Dunloy and St. John’s in two weeks’ time will decide the other automatic semi-final spot.
Armagh
Rian O’Neill came off the to bench inspire Crossmaglen to victory over St. Peter’s, their second in a row, in the Cormac Leonard Commercials Armagh SFC. The Armagh star kicked an injury-time winner to help his team to a 1-16 to 1-15 victory and send them top of Group C. Reigning champions Clann Eireann also have two wins from two after defeating Drominetee by 2-14 to 2-8. Culloville are top of Group A after an unlikely comeback win over last year’s beaten finalists, Clan na Gael. Fergal Kieran kicked a late two-pointer to seal victory as his team came back from 10 points down in as many minutes. Madden top Group B on scoring difference after a big 4-19 to 1-8 win over Pearse Óg.
Carlow
Mount Leinster Rangers were crowned Carlow SHC champions after victory over St. Mullins.
Clare
The draw for the quarter-finals of the TS Clare SHC will take place this evening after the final round of group matches took place over the weekend. The four seeded teams will be Eire Óg, Clooney-Quin, Kilmaley, and Clonlara with defending champions Feakle, Sixmilebridge, Inagh-Kilnamona, and Ballyea on the other side of the draw. Eire Óg’s 3-16 to 1-18 win over Feakle was the result of the weekend coming as it did despite the Ennis club playing with 14 men for most of the second-half.
Cork
Defending champions Castlehaven are through to the knock-out stages of the Cork Premier SFC after a comfortable 2-22 to 1-12 win over Valley Rovers. They’ll have concerns though about a late injury to star forward, Brian Hurley, that forced him off.
Newcestown, Carrigaline, St. Finbarrs, and Nemo Rangers also have four points from two matches and are assured of involvement in the knock-out stages.
Derry
A Slaughtneil team going for a remarkable 13th Derry SHC title in a row had to dig deep to make it two wins from two in this year’s campaign with a 0-27 to 1-20 win over Kevin Lynch’s. It looked like the champions would coast to a comfortable win when they led by 0-17 to 0-7 at the break, but Kevin Lynch’s dominated the second half and a late Stevie O’Neill goal put just a score between the teams before Shea Cassidy’s 12th point of the day finally made the win safe for Slaughtneil.
Donegal
Last year’s beaten Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC finalists, Dungloe, made it three wins from three in this year’s campaign with a hard-fought 0-12 to 0-10 win over Glenswilly. They can thank Dylan Sweeney for the result after he made a spectacular diving block on Daithi Gildea when he went for goal in the final play of the game. The win puts Dungloe in pole position for a place in the top four of the group phase which would earn them a priceless weekend off in what’s a hectic Donegal SFC. Meanwhile, reigning champions St. Eunan’s defeated St. Naul’s by 1-15 to 0-14. A haul of 1-6 from Coor O’Donnell meant a second-half fade-out from St. Eunan’s wasn’t fatal.
Down
Drumgath produced the shock of the first round of the Morgan Fuels Down SFC when beating neighbours Mayobridge by 0-14 to 1-10. Drumgath were recently relegated to Division Three but have now secured senior championship football after the derby win. Champions Kilcoo are in action this evening while a Burren team expected to be their biggest challenger impressed in a 1-25 to 0-5 victory over Castlewellan. The win was not without cost, though, as county star Danny Magill was injured while setting up Darragh Mussen’s goal.
Dublin
All-Ireland champions Cuala made it back to back wins in the Go Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship with a convincing 3-16 to 0-8 victory over Lucan Sarsfields. They led by just three points at the interval, 0-8 to 0-5, but moved up through the gears in the second-half as goals from Eoin Kennedy, Peter Duffy, and Con O’Callaghan put Lucan to the sword.
Kilmacud Crokes showed they’re determined to win their Dublin crown back by defeating St. Jude’s by 2-24 to 0-11. Paul Mannion was their main man, as he struck five first-half points to set them on their way and finished with a personal tally of 0-9. Shane Walsh was also to the fore, scoring 1-5.
Ballyboden St. Endas also have two wins from two as they defeated Ballinteer St. John’s by 4-18 to 1-14 with Ryan O’Dwyer and Daire Sweeny bagging a brace of goals each.
Galway
Loughrea’s defence of their Forvis Mazars Galway SHC title continued in impressive fashion as they defeated Killimordaly by 4-25 to 3-8 to remain top of Group 2. The leading contenders are already coming to the fore after just two rounds with St. Thomas’, Athenry, Clarinbridge, and Oranmore-Maree all on four points after two matches. The meeting of St. Thomas’s and Athenry in Group 1 on September 7 should be the tie of the round so far.
Kerry
Group winners Dr. Crokes and Kenmare Shamrocks go straight through to the Kerry Club Championship semi-finals after being the first two teams draw out of the hat. The third group winner, Na Gaeil, must compete in the quarter-final stage where they will play Dingle while Austin Stacks play Rathmore in the other quarter-final next weekend.
Kildare
Sarsfields clinched their place in the Joe Mallon Motors Senior Football Championship quarter-finals with an impressive 2-20 to 1-9 win over Maynooth. A scoring burst of 1-5 to a point when Maynooth were reduced to 14 men in the first half and another salvo of five points without reply in the opening 10 minutes of the second half proved decisive.
Johnstownbridge also secured their place in the knock-out stages with a convincing 4-27 to 1-10 win over Clogherinkoe. First half goals from Luke Ennis and Sam Doran sent them on their way while wing-forward Darragh Sloane kicked five two-point scores from play.
Champions Naas, in search of a fifth title in a row, are also through to the quarter-finals after a dominant 3-20 to 0-8 win over Raheens.
Celbridge made a statement with their 1-13 to 0-10 win over Athy. Aaron Browne hit 1-6 for the winners, 1-3 of which came in a purple patch of first-half injury-time.
Kilkenny
After the penultimate round of the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League, the Final looks likely to be a repeat of last year’s Kilkenny SHC Final between Thomastown and O’Loughlin Gaels.
Thomastown are already assured of their place in the decider as they made it four wins from four in Group B thanks to a 3-23 to 2-23 victory over Clara and can’t now be overtaken at the top of the table.
O’Loughlin Gaels also made it four wins from four in Group A as they defeated Ballyhale by 2-23 to 0-22. There’s still a slight mathematical chance they won’t top Group A, but only if they’re heavily defeated by Bennettsbridge in the final round and Glenmore heavily defeat Lisdowney to the extent that O’Loughlin’s current scoring difference of +23 over Glenmore is sufficiently eroded.
Laois
The draws have been made for the Laois Shopping Centre SFC and are as follows.
Portlaoise v Courtwood
Ballyroan-Abbey v St Joseph’s
Arles-Killeen v Portarlington
Graiguecullen v Killeshin
Leitrim
The draw for the third round of the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC has thrown up to big derby games with Mohill drawn way to Fenagh St Caillins and group leaders Leitrim Gaels set to host a St. Mary’s Kiltoghert team who are now under serious pressure to make the quarter-finals. Aughawillan have been drawn at home to face Glencar Manorhamilton while Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins host Melvin Gaels.
Limerick
Na Piarsaigh moved to the top of Group One of the White BOX Limerick SHC with a 2-25 to 1-13 win over Ahane. It’s a result that all but clinches their place in the quarter-finals while simultaneously ensuring that Patrickswell don’t progress to the knock-out rounds. An Adrian Breen goal killed off a prospective Ahane comeback while Kevin Downes and substitute Dylan Lynch all worked the scoreboard well too. Reigning champions Doon are the only other team not to have lost a match yet this year after they played out a very entertaining 0-22 to 2-16 draw with Kilmallock. Man of the match Adam English, who hit 13 points, looked like he had won it late on, but Oisin O’Reilly struck late for a deserved Kilmallock equaliser.
Longford
Longford Slashers are through to the CableComm Longford SHC Final after a commanding 4-25 to 0-9 victory over Clonguish Gaels. A talented young Slashers will go into the final with a fair wind in their sails having already beaten reigning champions Wolfe Tones Mostrim by a similarly comfortable margin.
Mayo
Crossmolina Deel Rovers produced the result of the weekend in the Connacht Gold Mayo SFC when defeating reigning champions Ballina Stephenites by 3-20 to 4-10. Crossmolina, who won last year’s Intermediate Championship, have a very exciting young team with serious pace and scoring power in attack.
Ballaghaderreen secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-13 to 2-12 win over Charlestown. Kuba Callaghan was the main man, as his supremely accurate placed-ball kicking kept Charlestown at arm’s length.
The results in full from the weekend are below.
GROUP 1: Crossmolina Deel Rovers 3-20 Ballina Stephenites 4-10; Ballyhaunis 2-11 Garrymore 2-13.
GROUP 2: Breaffy 0-12 Castlebar Mitchels 0-12; Belmullet 1-12 Aghamore 0-12.
GROUP 3: Charlestown Sarsfields 2-12 Ballaghaderreen 3-13; Ballintubber 0-15 Claremorris 1-10.
GROUP 4: Mayo Gaels 1-9 Balla 3-15; Knockmore 0-14 Westport 0-14
Meath
Champions Ratoath made a strong statement with a 3-16 to 0-11 victory over Kildalkey in Round 4 of the Ted Murtagh Trim Clothing and Footwear Meath SHC to make it four wins from as many games. Kildalkey just couldn’t cope with the pace, power and clinical finishing of the Ratoath attack where players like Padraig O’Hanrahan, Bryan McMahon, Cian Rogers, and Gavin McGowan impressed. Trim are the only other team in the championship with a perfect record as they defeated Killyon by 4-24 to 1-9 to strengthen their position at the top of Group B.
Monaghan
Reigning champions Scotstown got the defence of their Greenfield Foods Monaghan SFC title back on track with a hard-fought 0-19 to 0-17 win over Truagh. Rory Beggan was the familiar hero as he clinched the victory with an injury-time two-pointer. Corduff top Group 1 with four points from three games thanks to a 2-16 to 2-10 win over 14-man Cremartin. Jordan McGarrell kicked two two-pointers in the closing minutes as Corduff recovered impressively from a seven-point half-time deficit.
In Group Two, Inniskeen made it three wins from three courtesy of a 1-13 to 0-9 win over Magheracloone. County star Ciarán McNulty caught the eye, kicking 1-2 from midfield in the first half.
Offaly
Four of the six knock-out spots in the Molloy Environmental Systems Offaly SHC are now taken. Kilcormac-Killoughey, Birr, Belmont, and Shinrone are all through with Ballinamere, Coolderry, and Tullamore in the hunt for the final two places. The result of the weekend was Tullamore’s draw with Birr as they came from seven points down with five minutes left to claim a share of the spoils thanks largely to goals by Jay Sheerin and Dan Fox. Tullamore’s destiny is now in their own hands and they can secure a place in the knock-out rounds by beating Coolderry in the final round in two weeks time.
Roscommon
Roscommon Gaels knocked Tremane out of the Kepak Roscommon SHC when beating them by 1-17 to 3-8. The Gaels scored the first six points at the half and led at half-time by 1-10 to 1-3 with their goal coming from Eoin Kieran and Treman’s from Peter Kellehan. Tremane hit two more majors in the second-half through Kellehan again and John Brennan, but late points by Richard Walsh and top scorer Finn Killion helped the Gaels hold on.
The scene is now set for the quarter-finals where Roscommon Gaels will play Pádraig Pearses and St Dominic’s will play Athleague. The winners of Roscommon Gaels v Pádraig Pearses will play Four Roads in the semi-final with Oran awaiting the winners of the other quarter-final.
Sligo
Shamrock Gaels made it three wins from three in Group 1 of the Homeland Sligo Senior Football Championship by beating Curry by 4-21 to 3-15. They’ll take on Eastern Harps in their last group game on Sunday, September 7th, in a match that will likely decide who tops the table. Eastern Harps are showing good form too, they made it two wins from two by beating 1-11 to 0-12.
Meanwhile, in Group 2, Drumcliffe/Rosses Point were vey impressive 2-24 to 1-12 victors over Tubbercurry and top the table with two wins from two. In the group’s other match, St. Mary’s defeated Tourlestrane by 3-17 to 1-16.
Tipperary
Cashel King Cormacs produced the result of the round in the FBD Insurance Tipperary SHC as they defeated a fancied Nenagh Éire Óg team. Ger Browne and Ross Bonner were to the fore for the 2024 Intermediate champions as they franked their status as an up and coming team.
Reigning champions Loughmore-Castleiney showed their class in a 2-32 to 2-20 win over Mid champions JK Brackens with the McGrath brothers, John and Noel, hugely influential..
Last year’s beaten finalists, Toomevara, got their campaign back on track with an 11-point win over Clonoulty-Rossmore. Their two-man full-forward line of Darragh McCarthy and Adam Hall did most of the damage.
Veteran forward Kieran ‘Kiwi’ Morris helped secure a place for Moycarkey-Borris in the quarter-finals as he hit 2-8 in their impressive victory over Kilruane McDonaghs.
Waterford
Austin Gleeson and Ian O’Regan were Mount Sion’s extra-time heroes as they defeated Clonea by 0-28 to 2-21 in a dramatic Waterford SHC quarter-final. Gleeson shot seven extra-time points including the winner from a sideline cut, while goalkeeper O’Regan made two vital saves in extra-time.
Rory Furlong hit an 84th minute goal to help Roanmore to another extra-time victory over Fourmilewater on a scoreline of 2-20 to 1-21.
12-in-a-row chasing Ballygunner enjoyed a comfortable 2-27 to 2-9 win over Passage with the goals scored by Harry Ruddle and Patrick Fitzgerald.
Goals from Kevin Moran, Thomas Douglas, and Adam Farrell helped De La Salle to a comfortable 3-25 to 2-17 win over Lismore.
Mount Sion will now play Roanmore in the semi-finals, while Ballygunner will play De La Salle.
Westmeath
The Downs made a major statement by beating reigning champions St. Loman’s Mullingar on a scoreline of 3-16 to 1-10 in Round 3 of the Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath SFC. In what was a measure of revenge for last year’s county final replay defeat after penalties to the same opponents, The Downs played some cracking football to make it three wins from three and sit proudly on top of an otherwise congested table with six points with Athlone and St. Loman’s on three points each and Mullingar Shamrocks, Coralstown-Kinnegad, and Tyrrellspass on two points.
Wexford
Champions Castletown’s so far impressive defence of their Dominic Smith Expert Electric Wexford SFC title continued apace as they made it four wins from four courtesy of a 1-15 to 0-9 win over Shelmaliers. It was a dominant performance as a Donnacha Holmes goal helped them into a 1-9 to 0-3 half-time advantage and they coasted to the finish line from there. Castletown sit atop Group A while Gusserane O’Rahilly’s are the top dogs in Group B, also with four wins from four, after their 4-20 to 1-14 victory over St. James.
Wicklow
Bray Emmets and Carnew Emmets have both advanced directly to the Boom & Platform Hire Wicklow SHC semi-finals after winning their respective groups and will be kept on the opposite side of the draw.
The quarter-final line-up will see Kiltegan play St. Patrick’s and Avondale play Glenaly on the weekend September 6/7.