Now we’re hurling.
Reigning All-Ireland champions Cuala bit the dust, last year’s Leinster finalists Kilcormac Killoughey are gone and Thurles Sarsfields’ five-in-a-row bid in Tipperary was ended.
We had some weekend of hurling and here’s the round-up.
Tipperary (Senior semi-finals)
Thurles Sarsfields’ five-in-a-row bid in Tipperary was stopped in its tracks by a Michael Heffernan inspired Nenagh Éire Óg. The former Premier County senior scored 0-9, seven from play and two sidelines as he led by example in Semple Stadium.
Nenagh got off to a blistering start, reeling off 1-3 without reply in the first five minutes of the game, and though Thurles did fight back, the power of Pearse Morris in midfield, the resistance of Barry Heffernan in defence and the genius of Philip Hickey, Jake Morris and that man Heffernan in attack meant Nenagh had too much for them. 2-18 to 2-15 the final score, Nenagh are heading for the county final.
West champions Clonoulty Rossmore will be Nenagh’s opponents in the final. They got the better of Toomevara in a dour affair in Thurles. Timmy and Conor Hammersley both impressed for the winners but their cause was definitely helped by a nasty looking injury suffered by Toome’s centre back Jason Ryan very early on in the game.
This seemed to stun the Greyhounds, and by the 25th minute of the game they had only scored three points, with each of these points bizarrely coming from Mark McCarthy line balls. By the time he had lined up the third of those, he already knew it was going over the bar.
He didn’t stand back and admire it, in fact, straight after he cut the ball, he was running back to his position.
https://twitter.com/sportingtipp/status/1049008918188515330
Clonoulty took advantage of the absence of Toome’s key man, however, and their clever way of working the ball up the field with short-passes and plenty of movement will cause Nenagh problems in the final.
0-19 1-10 the final score, they were much the better team.
Dublin (Senior semi-finals)
Cuala’s great run had to come to an end at some stage and it took a trojan effort from Kilmacud Crokes to stop them. Lorcan McMullen was excellent in midfield for Anthony Daly’s men while Oisín O’Rourke, Ronan Hayes and Damien Kelly scored crucial goals.
The Dalkey side did rally gallantly towards the end, but a heroic save from goalkeeper Matt Collins kept Con O’Callaghan’s effort out.
You can watch the full highlights from the game that ended 3-13 to 1-17 here.
They’ll face Ballyboden St Enda’s in the final. Boden won out 2-16 to 0-18 in the other last four clash of the day, with Aidan Mellett and Paul Doherty scoring the goals.
You can watch the full highlights of that game from Dubs TV here.
Clare (Senior semi-finals)
Cratloe and Ballyea will contest the Clare senior hurling final after they defeated Kilmaley and O’Callaghan Mills respectively in the semi-finals.
Tony Kelly was irresistible again for the 2016 All-Ireland finalists. He scored 1-9 from open play from midfield on one of those days when every ball he got on looked like it was going to end up in a score. Ballyea needed him at his best, because O’Callaghan Mills pushed them all the way, but in the end, the Bally boys ran out 1-21 to 1-17 winners.
In the other last four clash, Cratloe edged last year’s intermediate champions Kilmaley by one point on a day when both sides hit 19 wides in Cusack Park. One man who didn’t contribute to the day’s high wide tally was Cratloe corner forward Rian Considine, his goal turning this game in their favour as they went on to win 1-14 to 0-16.
Kilkenny Quarter final
James Stephens 0-14 Érin’s Own 0-14
Érin’s Own Castlecomer nearly pulled off the shock of the weekend in the Kilkenny quarter final. The underdogs led James Stephens all the way in their clash in Ballyragget and they had a free to win it with the last puck of the game. That tailed wide and the sides will meet again next weekend to decide who plays Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final.
Full time Senior Championship Quarter Final Erin’s Own 0-14 James Stephens 0-14
Draw at full time. Close, exciting match from start to finish.
Well done to all the boys.
Replay next weekend. 👍🏻@KilkennyCLG @StCanicesCU pic.twitter.com/GulKPJT6jO— Erins Own (@ErinsOwnGaa) October 6, 2018
Waterford final
Ballygunner 2-18 Abbeyside 0-13
Ballygunner continued their absolute domination of Waterford senior hurling as they made it five titles in a row with a 2-18 0-13 victory over Abbeyside.
The sharpest shooter in the south east Pauric Mahony was yet again dead-eyed and he hit the same amount of points as Abbeyside with five coming from open play. The lively Bryan O’Sullivan got in for 1-3 while goal-poacher Conor Power scored his customary goal.
Will 2018 be the year this team finally break their Munster duck?
Offaly final
Coolderry 2-17 Kilcormac Killoughey 0-17
Coolderry lifted their 31st Offaly senior hurling title at the weekend. Captain Kevin Connolly led by example for Coolderry for whom Kevin Brady was a block in defence.
Offaly legend Brian Carroll also chipped in with a few tasty points in an extremely competitive Faithful final. The Special Ks went down but they went down fighting.
Coolderry are Offaly Senior Hurling Champions! Check out the full-time highlights here! pic.twitter.com/7pYWJ5SBt9
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 7, 2018
Meanwhile, in Laois, Camross retained their county title with a 2-15 to 0-19 win over Rathdowney Errill. Kiltale made it five-in-a-row in Meath while Athleague won the Roscommon final against Four Roads.
