The Molloy Environmental Systems hurling championships continue this weekend, with round two of the Senior A, Senior B and Intermediate championships taking place, while the Junior championship also gets underway.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior A Hurling championship
Saturday 14th April at Shinrone
Seir Kieran v Coolderry at 6.30pm
Both had positive results a fortnight ago – Seir Kieran with a first win for 16 years over St Rynagh’s, Coolderry a draw with champions Kilcormac-Killoughey. Joseph Bergin hit 1-11 for Seir Kieran, Brian Carroll firing 0-8 for the 2015 champions. Seir Kieran ended Coolderry’s interest in last year’s championship with a 1-23 to 3-15 quarter-final win. Coolderry’s last win was in the 2016 group stage, a 0-20 to 1-15 win. In all, the neighbours have met 37 times in the championship with Coolderry holding a 22 – 13 win, with draws in 1983 and 2001.
Saturday 14th April at Banagher at 6.30pm
Kinnitty v Birr
KInnitty fell to Belmont in round 1, with Colm Coughlan their top scorer with 0-5. Meanwhile, Birr beat Shinrone with Emmet Nolan hitting 1-3 and Eoghan Cahill scoring 0-6. These sides last met in the first round last year when Kinnitty won 2-19 to 1-15, in what was Kinnitty’s first win over Birr since 1985. A year earlier, Birr beat Kinnitty in the 2016 semi-final, 1-19 to 0-16. In all, the sides have met 35 times in the championship, Birr leading 23 – 10, with draws in 1975 and 1986.
Sunday 15th April at St Brendan’s Park, Birr
Shinrone v St Rynagh’s at 2pm
Both suffered opening round defeats, Shinrone at the hands of Birr, despite Conor Doughan scoring 0-6. St Rynagh’s were beaten by Seir Kieran in round 1, in a game Aidan Treacy scored 0-10. When last they met, last year, Shinrone won the round 5 tie 1-18 to 1-17. That was just Shinrone’s third ever win over the Shannonsiders, with St Rynagh’s winning 18 of the previous 22 meetings, with one draw in 2014.
Kilcormac-Killoughey v Belmont at 3.30pm
The champions opened a fortnight ago with a draw with Coolderry, while Belmont got their campaign off to the best possible start with a fine win over Kinnitty. Ciarán Slevin led the way for his club with 0-9 while Oisín Kelly was in goalscoring form, hitting 2-2 for Belmont. This is a repeat of last year’s semi-final, a tie Kilcormac-KIlloughey won by 0-12 to 0-11. Clubs from these adjoining parishes have met 15 times previously, the Kilcormac-Killoughey one holding a 13 – 1 lead with one draw. Belmont’s sole win came in 1986 when St Saran’s beat Killoughey.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior B Hurling Championship
Saturday 14th April at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park
Clodiagh Gaels v Shamrocks at 5pm
Clodiagh Gaels were beaten by Tullamore a fortnight ago, while Shamrocks were 1-12 to 1-9 winners over Brosna Gaels. Dwayne Dunne was his side’s top scorer with 2-6, while Johnny O’Toole (0-5) and Derek Molloy (1-2) shared the scoring honours for Shamrocks. This is the first championship meeting of these clubs, though in the most recent meeting Shamrocks beat Killurin 3-24 to 0-7 on their way to the 2014 Intermediate championship win.
Ballinamere v Lusmagh at 6.30pm
Both these sides opened with defeats, Ballinamere edged out by Drumcullen by a point in a goal-less encounter, Lusmagh beaten by Carrig & Riverstown in another goal-less tie. Paddy Murphy was Ballinamere’s top scorer with 0-5, Shane Healy topping the Lusmagh scoring chart with 0-8. They last met in the 2016 Senior championship when Ballinamere won 0-20 to 0-18, with the previous meeting a 1-11 to 0-13 Ballinamere win in the 2012 Intermediate championship.
Satuday 14th April at Kilcormac
Brosna Gaels v Drumcullen at 6.30pm
Brosna Gaels were defeated by Shamrocks 1-9 to 1-12 on opening day while Drumcullen enjoyed a narrow win over Ballinamere 0-16 to 0-15. Chris McDonald (with 1-6) and Conor Gath (0-9) led the way for their respective clubs. The sides drew 1-14 apiece in round 5 of last year’s IHC, while Drumcullen won the 2015 round 1 tie by 1-10 to 0-9. Brosna Gaels’ most recent win came in the 2014 Senior relegation final, which they won 0-21 to 0-17.
Sunday 15th April at Banagher
Carrig & Riverstown v Tullamore at 6pm
Both ‘blues’ enjoyed opening round wins, Carrig & Riverstown a 0-22 to 0-18 win over Lusmagh in which Brendan Hoctor top scored with 0-6. Tullamore beat neighbours Clodiagh Gaels 3-17 to 2-11 with Shane Dooley firing 1-10. A rare championship meeting between these sides, their only Senior meeting was in 1997 when Tullamore won an opening round tie 1-8 to 1-4.
Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship
Sunday 15th April at Killeigh
Ballinamere v Kilcormac-Killoughey at 12 noon
Ballinamere opened their Intermediate campaign with a 1-20 to 1-11 win over Ballyskenagh-Killavilla, while Kilcormac-Killoughey were 3-9 to 3-7 winners over Birr.
Sunday 15th April at Crinkill
Seir Kieran v Coolderry at 6pm
This is Seir Kieran’s first game in this year’s Intermediate championship, while Coolderry were beaten 0-10 to 1-13 by St Rynagh’s in round 1. They have met in each of the last three years at this grade, Seir Kieran winning 0-11 to 0-10 in 2015, while Coolderry won 3-17 to 0-20 in 2016, and by 0-13 to 0-7 last year.
Molloy Environmental Systems Junior A Hurling Championship
Saturday 14th April
Belmont v Crinkill at Moystown at 6pm
Sunday 15th April
Tullamore v Shamrocks at O’Brien Park at 2pm
Shinrone v St Rynagh’s at Shinrone at 6pm
Brosna Gaels v Kilcormac-Killoughey at Tubber at 6pm
Gracefield v Kinnitty at Gracefield at 6pm
Saturday 28th April
Clodiagh Gaels v Ballinamere at Killeigh at 6pm
By Offaly PRO Wed 11th Apr
