Senior Hurling Championship is down to eight

This years JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship began last May with twelve clubs in the frame to represent the County in the Munster Club Championship, and as we head to September, ten clubs still have something to play for.

Following the final round of games in the league section of the championship over the weekend, the eight teams that will play in the quarter finals of this years championship are now known, while the two sides fighting to retain their status for another year are also known.

2013 champions Passage secured their place in the last eight of the championship by virtue of beating a previously unbeaten De La Salle at Walsh Park on Saturday evening.

The champions got off to a great start in this game, when former inter county hurler Eoin Kelly cracked an early goal which gave his side a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

In what was a close game throughout, the Passage man’s early effort was cancelled out six minutes from the break when Jake Dillon finished to the net. Passage however soon went back in front courtesy of a Conor Carey goal which gave his side a 2-8 to 1-8 lead at the break.

In the second half, the game continued to be a closely fought battle with both sides hitting six points each.

Abbeyside secured their place in the last eight of the championship when they beat Roanmore at Kill.

The city side for much of the game proved to be the better of the two sides and at the break they held a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage.

A goal from Tiernan Murray proved crucial for Abbeyside in the second half crucial. Emmet O’Toole and Eoin Madigan struck second half goals for the city side in the second half but it was not enough to help their side from going under on a 1-20 to 2-12 score line.

Despite earning a draw with Lismore, the end result for Fourmilewater was not good enough to help them avoid a relegation play off in the coming weeks. The Ballymacarbry based clubs finished bottom of the group with three points from a maximum of ten, the same tally as Roanmore who finished above Fourmilewater as a result of winning the head to head game between the two, even though the western club had a better score difference.

Lismore at the break lead 2-5 to 0-5, the goals coming from the Shanahan brothers Dan on the quarter of an hour mark and Maurice two minutes from the break.

Fourmilewater with surgery done on the team for the second thirty minutes proved to be the better of the two sides. Dermot Ryan hit two early second half points and then set up county minor star Conor Gleeson for a goal on forty-one minutes.

With time running down, Fourmilewater were leading and looked as though they were going to force Lismore into a relegation play off but a late Maurice Shanahan point from a free saw Lismore head to the quarter finals and Fourmilewater to a relegation play off.

Ballygunner are the only remaining team with a 100% win record in this years championship after they beat Ballyduff Upper in the first of two games played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

Ballygunner had a dream start to this game hitting three goals in the first ten minutes of the game.

The first goal of the game will in the will possibly rank as the greatest in this years championship as Barry Coughlan ran from his own half back line before beating John Twomey in the Ballyduff goal with an unstoppable shot.

The city side added two further goals in the tenth minute courtesy of Conor Power and Brian O’Sullivan which helped them to a 3-8 to 0-10 lead at the turn around.

Ballyduff Upper had former minor star Mikey Kearney firing on all guns in this game as he hit 1-14 of his sides 1-18, but on the other side Pauric Mahony was also in fine form hitting 0-10 for Ballygunner who ran out 3-21 to 1-18 winners.

Prior to the meeting of Mount Sion and Dungarvan at Walsh Park on Saturday evening, both sides were through to the last eight of the competition.

At the break a Patrick Curran goal for Dungarvan proved to be the difference between the sides as they turned around with the Old Boro leading 1-5 to 0-7.

However, in the second half the flood gates opened mid way through the half. Gavin Crotty hit a brace of goals in the third quarter which gave Dungarvan a ten point lead, a lead that was further extended when Cormac Curran struck a fourth goal for the Old Boro on forty eight minutes.

Austin Gleeson struck a late goal for Mount Sion from a penalty, but it proved to be a mere consolation score as Dungarvan ran out 3-14 to 1-19 winners.

For the second year running the Clashmore venue was the place to be for goals in the final round of games in the league section of the competition as Tallow and Ardmore shared six goals.

Evan Sheehan hit three goals for the Bride-siders in the opening half which gave his side a 3-7 to 1-10 lead at the break, with Cathal Hennessy hitting the Ardmore goal.

Ardmore finished the game with only thirteen players on the field after both Conor O’Shea (two yellows) and David Gartland (Straight red) were sent off. Tallow however even with a numerical advantage  were pushed by Ardmore to the very end. The Bride-siders secured their place in the last eight of the competition however with a 3-17 to 3-15 win.

In the quarter finals, Ballygunner as group two winners will play Lismore while De La Salle as group one winners will play Tallow. In the other quarter finals, Abbeyside will play Mount Sion while Passage play Dungarvan. This years relegation play off will see Ardmore take on Fourmilewater.

Dates, times and venues for all five games are expected to be confirmed this evening by the County CCCC.