The Molloy Environmental Systems hurling championships get underway this weekend with 12 games across three grades held at nine separate venues. As always, U16’s are admitted free. Action begins on Saturday afternoon when Rath hosts a Senior Double Header.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling championship
Saturday 30th March at Rath
Kilcormac-Killoughey v Shinrone at 3.30pm
Last year’s beaten finalists Kilcormac-Killoughey meet 2018 quarter-finalists Shinrone in the season’s championship opener. Last year’s meeting came in round 6 when green and gold prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 1-17 to 1-16.
Both have been busy in the Leinster club league in recent weeks, Kilcormac-Killoughey with wins over Naomh Eoin (Carlow) by 1-14 to 1-10 and Shelmaliers (Wexford) by 1-18 to 0-16, while losing to group toppers Mullinavat (Kilkenny) by 1-13 to 4-13. Shinrone for their part topped their group in the Leinster club league with a 4-9 to 0-9 win over Glynn-Barntown (Wexford) which they followed with a 3-17 to 1-19 win over St Patricks (Kilkenny).
Birr v Coolderry at 5pm
Last year’s championship winners Coolderry open their campaign with a meeting with neighbours Birr, whose 2018 championship ended with a quarter-final defeat by Belmont. When last they met, Coolderry enjoyed a 1-19 to 1-9 win in round 5 at Saturday’s venue.
Both have played just once in this year’s Brosna Press hurling league, Coolderry losing out to Ballinamere by 1-17 to 4-13, while Birr opened their league campaign with a 2-28 to 0-10 win over Tullamore.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship
Sunday 31st March at Birr
Kinnitty v St Rynagh’s at 1.45pm
Kinnitty secured Senior A status when ending their 2018 campaign with a relegation final win over Seir Kieran, while St Rynagh’s reached the semi-final only to be defeated by Kilcormac-Killoughey. Last year’s meeting was in round 3 when the Shannonsiders claimed the two points on offer with a 0-21 to 0-13 win.
Kinnitty have been involved in the Leinster club league where they beat St Martin’s (Kilkenny) by 2-22 to 2-12, while on the domestic front they have drawn with Kilcormac-Killoughey (0-17 to 1-14) and beat Belmont 1-17 to 1-14 in the Brosna Press hurling league. St Rynagh’s for their part opened their year with a Brosna Press hurling league win over Seir Kieran by 1-18 to 2-11.
Sunday 31st March at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park
Ballinamere v Belmont at 2pm
Last year’s Senior B winners Ballinamere make a return to top flight hurling when they take on 2017 and 2018 semi-finalists Belmont in the first moiety of a Sunday double header at the Arden Road venue. It is just the third meeting of the sides in Senior championship hurling, the first a 2-16 all draw in 2015, the more recent a 3-17 to 1-15 win for Belmont a year later.
Ballinamere proudly top group 1 of the Brosna Press hurling league, having enjoyed wins over Belmont (by 2-12 to 0-9) and Coolderry (4-13 to 1-17). Belmont followed up that opening round defeat with a 1-14 to 1-17 defeat by KInnitty.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship
Sunday 31st March at Crinkill
Carrig & Riverstown v Drumcullen at 12 noon
Last year’s meeting in round seven produced a thrilling 1-21 to 0-23 win for Drumcullen. Drumcullen’s championship ended at the quarter-final stage, beaten in extra time by Shamrocks, while Carrig & Riverstown needed a relegation final win to secure Senior B status for 2019.
So far this year, Carrig & Riverstown opened their league campaign with a 1-12 to 3-22 defeat by Kilcormac-Killoughey.
Sunday 31st March at Moystown
Lusmagh v Tullamore at 12 noon
These sides ended all square when they met in round 6 last year, a see-saw clash that ended Tullamore 2-17 Lusmagh 1-20. The Blues went on to reach the semi-finals where their campaign ended with a defeat by neighbours Shamrocks, while Clodiagh Gaels ended the Reds’ season at the quarter-final stage.
Lusmagh opened their division 2 league campaign with a 1-19 to 0-15 win over St Rynagh’s which they followed with a high scoring draw with Shamrocks (1-20 to 0-23). Tullamore, operating in division 1, have lost their only league game to Birr.
Sunday 31st March at Birr
Kilcormac-Killoughey v Seir Kieran at 12 noon
Relegated from Senior A at the end of 2018, Seir Kieran get their first Senior B campaign underway when they meet last year’s Intermediate winners Kilcormac-Killoughey.
This year to date, Seir Kieran have opened their division 1 league series with a 2-11 to 1-18 defeat by St Rynagh’s, while Kilcormac-Killoughey’s year to date has seen them open Division 2 with a 0-12 to 2-11 defeat by Seir Kieran, before recovering with a 3-22 to 1-12 win over Carrig & Riverstown.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship
Sunday 31st March at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park
Clodiagh Gaels v Shamrocks at 3.30pm
The second part of Sunday’s double header, Shamrocks aim to return to the Senior B final, a stage they reached last year, while Clodiagh Gaels were beaten at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Ballinamere.
Both are in Division 2 of the league, Shamrocks opened their campaign with a 0-23 to 1-20 draw with Lusmagh, while Clodiagh Gaels were pipped 2-14 to 2-15 by Seir Kieran.
Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship
Birr v Clara at Mucklagh at 12 noon
A meeting of last year’s defeated semi-finalists, Clara took eventual champions Kilcormac-Killoughey to a replay while a 0-17 to 0-18 defeat by St Rynagh’s at the penultimate stage ended Birr’s interest. The round 2 clash of the pair produced a thriller, Birr edging a 0-27 to 3-15 win.
They have already met in this year’s league, with Clara enjoying a 1-14 to 0-13 division 3 win. Clara followed up with a 1-10 to 0-12 win over Tullamore, while Birr got their league campaign back on track with a 3-22 to 5-8 win over Ballyskenagh-Killavilla.
Coolderry v Shinrone on Sunday at Carrig at 4pm
Coolderry finished in seventh place in the group in last year’s Intermediate championship, while Shinrone were Junior A winners following a 1-12 to 0-12 final win over Tullamore.
The sides have already met in this year’s league with Shinrone recording a 1-21 to 1-14 win over their neighbours.
Seir Keran v Ballinamere at Kilcormac at 5pm
Both saw their 2018 campaigns end at the quarter-final stage, Seir Kieran losing out by 3-10 to 2-16 to Birr, while Clara ended Ballinamere’s year on a 0-7 to 2-16 scoreline. Seir Kieran were comprehensive (2-18 to 0-11) winners when the sides met in last year’s round 4.
Ballinamere’s Division 3 league opener saw them lost to Coolderry by 1-9 to 1-16, while in Division 2, Seir Kieran top the group following wins over Kilcormac-Killoughey (2-11 to 0-12) and Clodiagh Gaels (2-15 to 2-14).
Brosna Gaels v St Rynagh’s at Lusmagh at 5.30pm
The weekend’s hurling concludes at Lusmagh where last year’s defeated finalists St Rynagh’s meet Brosna Gaels who were relegated from Senior B at the end of last year. The did not meet last year, but their last meeting at Intermediate grade was in 2017’s round 4 when St Rynagh’s prevailed by 0-10 to 1-5.
Recently, St Rynagh’s began Division 2 with a 0-15 to 1-19 defeat by Lusmagh, while Brosna Gaels have yet to open their Division 3 campaign.
By Offaly PRO Fri 29th Mar
