The Molloy Environmental Systems Senior, Senior B and Intermediate Hurling Championships continue this weekend when the second round fixtures take place. Last week’s winners will seek to continue their winning starts, while first round losers will seek to get their campaigns back on track.
Saturday sees a Senior double header at St Brendan’s Park, Birr, while over the weekend there will be 12 games at nine venues. As always, U16 are admitted free.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship
Saturday 6th April at Birr
Ballinamere v Coolderry at 3.30pm
Both of last year’s champions meet in the first of Saturday’s double header, Coolderry the Senior champions, Ballinamere the Senior B winners. Both were on the wrong end of last Saturday’s results, Ballinamere defeated 2-13 to 4-20 by Belmont, with Coolderry losing out to Birr by 2-11 to 2-15.
It’s been a while since these two last met in the Senior championship – 1947 in fact, when Coolderry were 8-1 to 2-1 victors in their sole meeting. More recently they met in the Brosna Press league last month when Ballinamere won by 4-13 to 1-17
Kilcormac-Killoughey v St Rynagh’s at 5pm
Both were first round winners, Kilcormac-Killoughey with a 1-16 to 0-16 win over Shinrone where James Gorman’s first half goal was the difference, while St Rynagh’s were 1-18 to 0-10 winners over KInnitty when Matthew Maloney’s goal sealed the win.
They met twice last year. The Shannonsiders winning the group game by 1-19 to 2-11, before green and gold turned the tables with a 1-16 to 1-11 semi-final win.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship
Sunday 7th April at Coolderry
Birr v Kinnitty 12 noon
Birr got their 2019 championship campaign off to the best possible start with a 2-15 to 2-11 win over neighbours Coolderry in a game where Colm Mulrooney and Tomás Bolger scored the goals. KInnitty were disappointed to go down to St Rynagh’s in a 0-10 to 1-18 defeat.
The sides met at the same stage (round 2) last year when they ended level, Birr 2-12 Kinnitty 0-18. Kinnitty won the 2017 meeting by 2-19 to 1-15, avenging Birr’s 2016 first round 1-17 to 1-11 win.
Sunday 7th April at Rath
Belmont v Shinrone 5pm
Belmont carried their 2018 form into this year’s championship when scoring a 4-20 to 2-13 win over Ballinamere last week, with Oisín Kelly (2), Colin Egan and Joe Maher scoring the goals. Shinrone lost out to KIlcormac-KIlloughey by 0-16 to 1-16.
When they met last year, Shinrone were 3-16 to 2-11 winners in a round 7 meeting at Crinkill. Belmont were 3-19 to 2-19 winners in the 2017 meeting, while Shinrone were 2-11 to 0-9 victors in 2016’s first round.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship
Saturday 6th April at Kinnitty
Drumcullen v Lusmagh at 5pm
Drumcullen were first round winners over Carrig & Riverstown last Sunday by 0-22 to 0-16, while Lusmagh drew with Tullamore 0-16 to 1-13.
When they met last year, Lusmagh were 4-16 to 0-12 winners at Moystown
Saturday 6th April at Shinrone
Carrig & Riverstown v Seir Kieran at 5pm
Last week, Carrig & Riverstown began their championship with a 0-16 to 0-22 defeat by Drumcullen. Seir Kieran got ther campaign underway with a win over Kilcormac-Killoughey’s second team, when Adrian Hynes (2), Shane Ryan (2) and Tom Carroll were goalscorers.
This is only the second ever meeting of these clubs at Senior level, the first a 6-8 to 4-3 win for Carrig & Riverstown way back in 1959
Sunday 7th April at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park at 2pm
Kilcormac-Killoughey v Shamrocks at 2pm
Both are looking to get back on track following first round defeats, Kilcormac-Killoughey going down to Seir Kieran, while Shamrocks were beaten 0-14 to 1-21 to Clodiagh Gaels.
The last meeting of Shamrocks’ first team and Kilcormac-Killoughey’s second team was in the replayed 2014 Intermediate quarter-final when Shamrocks scored a 2-13 to 0-12 win.
Sunday 7th April at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park
Clodiagh Gaels v Tullamore at 3.30pm
Clodiagh Gaels got 2019’s championship off to a flyer with a 1-21 to 0-14 win over Shamrocks, their first Senior win over their neighbours since Killeigh beat St Carthage’s in 1977. Tullamore drew with Lusmagh 1-13 to 0-16 with James Houlihan’s first half strike the game’s only goal.
Tullamore were 3-17 to 2-11 winners when they last met in 2018’s first round, Clodiagh Gaels’ last Senior win over Tullamore was when Killeigh beat the Blues in 1972.
Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship
All on Sunday 7th April
Brosna Gaels v Clara at Moystown 12 noon
Both were first round winners, Brosna Gaels with a 2-15 to 1-12 win over St Rynagh’s, Clara with a 2-14 to 1-13 win over Birr in which Cathal O’Meara and Ciarán Ennis were the goalscorers. Their last meeting was in the 2017 Intermediate championship and the sides ended level, Brosna Gaels 0-17 Clara 1-14.
St Rynagh’s v Shinrone at Crinkill at 12 noon
Both looking to get back on track following first round defeats, St Rynagh’s by 1-12 to 2-15 at the hands of Brosna Gaels, Shinrone were 0-13 to 2-20 losers to neighbours Coolderry.
Coolderry v Seir Kieran at Kinnitty at 5pm
First round winners, Coolderry defeating neighbours Shinrone while Seir Kieran beat Ballinamere by 2-20 to 2-17. Seir Kieran were 3-11 to 2-7 winners when they met last year.
Ballinamere v Birr at Kilcormac at 5 pm
Defeated in the first round, Ballinamere lost to Seir Kieran, while Birr lost to Clara. Birr were 2-17 to 0-11 winners when they met last year.
By Offaly PRO Thu 4th Apr
