The Indian summer that we are experiencing at present has made it very enjoyable for both the players to perform in and for the patrons to view this year’s local championships.
It’s rare in this little country of ours that the sliothar would be flying around as fast if not faster than it would in the height of the summer. Good weather games usually see the best teams come out on top, let’s hope these good ground conditions last for another couple of weeks as the championship comes to a climax.
Last weekend a full schedule of games on Saturday and Sunday once again meant that fans had to pick and choose what action they had to take in. I am a little bit puzzled at times as to why the country board drags us all over the county when double headers at the premier venues would be less taxing.
The senior action saw three of the teams (James Stephens, Shamrocks and O'Loughlins ) who had reached the quarter-final stages via the league route book their passage into the semi-finals.
The remaining team, Clara, will get their first taste of championship action this weekend when they take on Erin’s Own in the remaining quarter-final. My first port-of-call on Saturday was to Danesfort to view my own club's minor team surrender to a hungrier Lisdowney outfit; from there it was off to Thomastown to see Dunnamaggin take on one of this year’s more fancied teams, O'Loughlin Gaels. The city team was the only side to take points off last year’s champions Ballyhale Shamrocks in the league. On paper they have a nice blend of youth and experience, they did overcome the Dunnamaggin challenge but not without a minor scare. They oozed class in the first half and looked to be well on their way with a six-point half time lead of 1-9 to 6 points. Their goal came from Tipperary star Paul Kelly after the elusive Danny Loughnane had beautifully plucked the ball from the sky and turned in mid air, all in one manoeuvre, before releasing to Kelly who slotted it home. The goal was well taken by Kelly but Loughnane's bit of magic was the highlight of the game for me. I spoke in last week's column about how honest Dunnamaggin are and it was this honesty once again that saw them claw their way back in the second half.
O'Loughlins probably dropped the tempo also but credit has to go to the southerners for battling to the bitter end. Martin Comerford and Noel Hickey had a good tussle throughout, the O'Loughlin’s county star won the battle on this occasion, chipping in with four well-taken points. They now take on the champions in the semi-final. Many people were hoping these two would stay apart but the open draw has put pay to that.
An hour later James Stephens - last year’s finalists - took on St Martin’s in Nowlan Park. I had given St Martin’s my vote to win this one but was I wrong. The Village men were in a different league. They totally outclassed the St Martin’s men on the day - what a difference a week makes! St Martin’s had looked hungry and formidable in their victory over Carrickshock in the first round last Saturday, but they were both outhurled and outfought. The city side made a couple of shrewd moves during the game. The positional changes of Jackie Tyrell and Donacha Cody in the backs and Eoin Larkin and Gary Whelan in the forwards left the team looking far more balanced. All four players benefited from the switches. The Village side was very economical with possession - they have plenty of scoring power up-front and Donacha Cody's long range free-taking was also a feature of the game. On the evidence of what I saw they seemed to have improved from last year and having been drawn against the winners of Clara and Erin’s Own, they will make a bold bid to get to the final. The only St Martins man that deserved top marks on the day was last year’s Kilkenny U21 captain James Dowling…small in stature, big in heart, he certainly left nothing behind him in Nowlan Park last Saturday.
I didn't make it to Freshford for the replay of ‘Comer and Johnstown as it clashed with the Dunnamaggin/O'Loughlins tie but my spies tell me it was probably the best senior game of the weekend.
My trend of tipping the wrong side continued here as the ‘Comer men came out on top by two points. Davy Buggy once again found the back of the net with a well-taken free. Johnstown had chances later on but failed to take them. It has been a great 12 months for the Erin’s Own club minor and intermediate champions last season and now in this year’s senior quarter-finals. Happy days indeed for the ‘Comer men.
The Intermediate grade is always hard to get out of and this year will be no different. Mooncoin are certainly catching the eye this season, they have put two good wins under their belts in recent weeks. They have taken the scalps off Mullinavat and last year’s finalists Danesfort, having played against them earlier in the year in a challenge match. I know they are a very youthful outfit with plenty of potential. The big question that hangs over them as they face Freshford in next Sunday’s semi-final, is how they will cope with the confines of Nowlan Park. They have frozen on a couple of occasions when they reached Kilkenny's premier pitch.
St Lactains had a good victory over their neighbours Emeralds. Eoin Guinan once again cut loose, scoring 12 of his side’s tally of 17 points. Could they be over reliant on one man to get their scores?? Only time will tell.
Dicksboro seemed to blow a big lead against Tullogher-Rosbercon last Sunday. They are another very youthful side but they must learn quickly that when they are on top they must drive on. Tullogher-Rosbercon must be given great credit for rescuing another day out.
The remaining Intermediate clash saw Glenmore and Carrickshock fight out their replay. Its amazing how these two sides could only manage 10 points each one week and come up with a scoreline of 3-16 (CS ) 4-10 (Gl ) the next. Conahy's three-point victory gives them a quarter-final slot next weekend against my favourites for the title, the Rower Inistioge.
The southern side have impressed me during the league campaign, they have an abundance of good underage talent coming through. I know they have often failed to deliver in the past when expectations were high but I reckon if they can keep their feet (firmly ) on the ground, they are in with a great shout.
The best is left ‘til last. The senior champions Ballyhale Shamrocks started their defence last Sunday with a comprehensive victory over Graigue-Ballycallan; they racked up a huge score of 5-21 but conceded 2-15. `The latter will be a worry to the Ballyhale mentors and I suppose it will give the remaining teams some hope. I have seen a lot of games over the last two weekends but realistically it's hard to see anyone relieving the champions of their crown.
