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24th Sep 2018

Reid back with a bang and O’Connor on fire as hurling hots up all over

Niall McIntyre

Hoho hurling.

Most counties are coming towards the last eight, and last four stages of their county championships now. Here’s our round-up of the games that took place over the weekend.

Kilkenny SHC

Ballyhale Shamrocks won the battle of the Ballys in O’Loughlin Gaels’ pitch on Sunday evening. 2017 intermediate champions St Patrick’s Ballyragget put it up to Henry Shefflin’s men in the early stages, with their star man Kevin Kelly scoring a rocket goal after five minutes, but once the Shamrocks got going, they were unstoppable.

Young Adrian Mullen, only a year out of the minor grade was devastating at corner forward and he finished up with four fine points from play. Where Mullen is the apprentice, TJ Reid is the master and he, in his first game back after a shoulder injury, scored 1-11 including a fine goal from open play. Youngsters Evan Cody and Evan Shefflin also fared well for the side who must now be considered contenders for the title, while Colin Fennelly scored a cracker of a goal for them.

A late Chris Bolger goal saved Clara’s blushes after a Richie Hogan inspired Danesfort fought back to level the scores with only minutes remaining in their relegation play-off. The 2013 and 2015 county champions now advance to the quarters while Danesfort are heading for a relegation scrap.

Former All-Ireland minor final hero John Walsh scored the crucial goal in Mullinavat’s defeat of the Rower, while a late Conor Fogarty free ensured a share of the spoils for Castlecomer against Carrickshock in their relegation semi. The replay of that game will be next weekend.

Ballyhale Shamrocks 3-22 St Patrick’s Ballyragget 1-12

Clare 3-10 Danesfort 1-14

Mullinavat 2-14 Rower Inistioge 0-16

Erins Own 2-15 Carrickshock 1-18

Here is the quarter-final lineup. The clash of last year’s champions Dicksboro and the in-form Ballyhale looks like a mouthwatering one.

Limerick SHC

There are four teams still standing in Limerick after the weekend’s results.

A Peter Casey goal fired Na Piarsaigh to a convincing ten point victory over a disappointing Patrickswell while Barry Murphy did the damage as Doon took Kilmallock down with ease.

Na Piarsaigh and Doon are going straight through to the semis.

In the quarters, Kilmallock will play South Liberties and Patrickswell take on Murroe-Boher.

Weekend’s results

Adare 3-17 Ballybrown 3-17
Na Piarsaigh 1-21 Patrickswell 1-11
Doon 0-17 Kilmallock 0-10

Monaleen 1-15 Ahane 0-17
South Liberties 1-12 Cappamore 1-11
Murroe Boher 2-16 Knockainey 2-11

Wexford SHC

Conor McDonald and Cathal Dunbar were again on fire for Gorey as they booked their place in the last four of the Wexford SHC. The deadly duo accounted for 3-9 between them, with McDonald managing 2-6 from open play against St Anne’s.

Oylegate Glenbrien defeated Shelmaliers by three points in Wexford Park to book their place in the semis. The winners hit four wides, to Shelmaliers whopping 21.

Rapparees saw off a dogged Rathnure for whom Jack Guiney was immense on Sunday, while defending champions St Martin’s had seven points to spare in their victory over Ferns. Joe O’Connor was on fire for the Martin’s, the DCU student and former Wexford 21 scoring 2-2.

Meanwhile, Buffers’ Alley are heading down after they were relegated by Glynn Barntown.

Naomh Eanna 4-17 St Anne’s Rathangan 3-11

Shelmaliers 2-12 Oylegate Glenbrien 3-12

Rapparees 2-18 Rathnure 1-14

St Martin’s 2-18 Ferns 2-11

Buffers Alley 0-8 Glynn Barntown 2-11

Waterford SHC

Five-in-a-row seeking Ballygunner didn’t just answer any questions about their hunger in the Déise semi-final, Fergal Hartley’s side gobbled them up. Pauric Mahony punished every Passage show of indiscipline, and there were plenty of them, the sharpest shooter in the south east scoring 1-11 (1-10) from frees, while the goal hungry Conor Power raised yet another green flag.

Ballygunner 3-23 Passage 1-4

They’ll take on Abbeyside in the final in a couple of weeks.

Dublin SHC

Anthony Daly’s Kilmacud Crokes had five to spare over Jude’s, while Na Fianna triumphed over St Vincent’s in a dull encounter in Parnell Park.

The highlight of that game was the 25/30mts cross-field hand-pass from former Dublin minor and under-21 hurler AJ Murphy during the first half.

Check it out via Dublin GAA TV here.

Meanwhile, Con O’Callaghan was back in the goals for Cuala, while the Boden trounced Balinteer in the other last eight clash.

Quarter-Final results

Kilmacud Crokes 0-19 St Jude’s 0-14

St. Vincent’s 1-14 Na Fianna 1-12

Cuala 2-26 Lucan 2-13

Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-21 Ballinteer St. John’s 0-18

Here are the semi-final pairings.

All of the Clare results are covered here.

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