Tipperary SHC.

FAVOURITES for the Tipperary SHC, Thurles Sarsfields, are out following a dramatic final weekend of group stage action. Despite beating Cashel King Cormacs by three points, Thurles needed an ectra point to advance and have failed to make the knockout stages for the first time since 2019. 

With Nenagh Éire Óg firm favourites to overcome Mullinahone in the other group game, the two teams to advance would be decided on score difference from the games not involving Mullinahone. Thurles needed to win by a minimum of four points while Cashel could afford to lose by three.

From the outset, Sarsfields made all the running, with Conor and Darragh Stakelum to the fore. They led by three coming up to half time when Cashel defender Kieran O’Dwyer was pulled down in the square. Eoghan Connolly goaled from the resulting penalty to leave the sides level at the break, 0-10 to 1-7.

As in the opening half, Sarsfields again made all the running and hit five points on the bounce to go six points up. Cashel struck back and the deficit was down to two late with five minutes remaining, before eventually going down by three, 0-25 to 1-19, but advancing to the knock-out stages, in their first year back at the top level since 2014. 

Eoghan Connolly finished with 1-4, while Devon Ryan hit 0-3 from frees with Ger Browne 0-3. Aside from the Stakelums, Ronan and Stephen Maher in defence with Paddy Creedon and Eoin Purcell in attack couldn’t be faulted.

Nenagh Éire Óg recovered from their shock defeat by Cashel King Cormacs last day out, justifying their favouritism to get the better of Mullinahone at Templetuohy, 2-23 to 2-11, to advance to the quarter finals. 

Mullinahone, playing with the wind advantage for the opening half were slow to get off the mark, with Nenagh, who looked very composed, setting the pace from early on. Mullinahone’s shooting was very erratic, as they trailed by five at the break, 0-12 to 0-7, hitting nine first half wides in the process.

After the break, Nenagh took up where they left off, Mikey Heffernan getting in for a goal early, while the games other three goals came in the final quarter with the game out of sight for Nenagh. Danny Dunne got a goal for Mullinahone in the 48th minute, while substitute Tommy Heffernan replied for Nenagh, before Sean Curran had Mullinahone’s second. Mikey Heffernan finished with 1-11 for the North Tipp team, who advance to the quarter final, with Mullinahone consigned to the relegation battle.

Loughmore Castleiney, the holders, completed their three games with a 100% success rate to top Group 3 at Cloughjordan, when they overcame Lorrha Dorrha by 3-26 to 1-17, a defeat that puts the North Tipperary side into the relegation battle.

Cian Hogan gave Lorrha an early lead with a goal after six minutes, but the holders were back on level terms by the fourteenth minute following a John McGrath point from a free. Gradually Loughmore began to take over and an Ed Connolly goal after eighteen minutes gave them a four point advantage. They hit the next five points on the bounce, with John and Noel McGrath in fine form as the led at the break, 1-14 to 1-7.

Thirteen seconds after the restart, John McGrath had their second goal, to effectively put the game out of reach. Colm Fogarty kept plugging away for Lorrha, finishing with 0-12, 10 frees. Loughmore were far the crisper side and hit six unanswered points in succession before Mikey Ryan got in for goal number three on fifty minutes. They now advance to the quarter finals.

The second game in Group 3 at Borrisoleigh paired Mid neighbours J K Brackens and Drom & Inch together in a winner take all game for the second place spot. Drom were very impressive all through after having the perfect start, when John Ryan struck in the first minute with a goal as they went on to lead by four points, 1-9 to 0-8 at half time, with Seamus Callanan hitting two huge wind assisted points from placed balls.

After the restart Jack Lillis, on the first attack, struck goal number two inside a minute to push their advantage out to seven. This advantage was out to ten by the fiftieth minute, when Lorcan Campion hit goal number three after a good move involving Cormac Fitzpatrick. Seamus Callanan finisher with 0-7 while Cormac Fitzpatrick hit 0-3 for Drom.

J K Brackens were sluggish throughout and were dependent on Shane Doyle, who hit a late penalty in added time to add to his seven points from frees. Drom now advance to the knockout stages, while Brackens go into a preliminary quarter final, having won the Mid Championship in early August.