Quick start sees Clonoulty-Rossmore overcome CJ Kickhams Mullinahone to reach Tipp SHC quarters

Six points without reply in the opening six minutes helped Clonoulty-Rossmore secure their place in the last eight.

QUARTERS BOUND: Enda Kean Mullinahone, under pressure from Sean O'Connor, Clonoulty Rossmore in the County Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final. Picture Brendan Gleeson

Tipperary SHC Preliminary quarter-final

Clonoulty-Rossmore 1-23 CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 1-20

A blistering opening six minutes, when they scored six points without reply, was the platform from which Clonoulty-Rossmore launched their successful bid to claim a spot in the Tipperary senior hurling quarter-finals as they saw off the challenge of CJ Kickhams Mullinahone at Templetuohy on Sunday.

Mikey O'Shea had the opening point for Mullinahone inside 20 seconds but that flourish from Clonoulty gave them an advantage they never surrendered in a contest that, while always competitive, never reached expected heights.

Mullinahone were always chasing the game and when Conor Hammersley netted for Clonoulty after 13 minutes to put them 1-8 to 0-4 ahead it looked ominous for Kickhams. However they had a productive second quarter but at half time Clonoulty were still 1-12 to 0-11 clear.

Clonoulty again opened the second half in flying form and were 1-19 to 0-14 ahead when Mikey O'Shea netted for Mullinahone after 39 minutes. Points from Jack Shelley (2) and Eoin O'Dwyer left them just two behind with 11 minutes to play, 1-19 to 1-17.

Enna Ryan , Mullinahone , trying to control the sliotar against ,Ronan Heffernan, Clonoulty Rossmore.

Clonoulty held their nerve in those tense closing minutes to go through to the last eight. Robert Doyle hit five points from play for the winners for whom Cathal Bourke, Ronan Heffernan, John O Keeffe Sean O Connor and Ciaran Quirke also impressed.

Mullinahone suffered a big blow with the loss of former county man Paul Curran to injury after19 minutes. Mikey O'Shea was their big threat in attack with the Shelleys, Jack and Colin, Daire O Brien, Michael Dunne and Danny Dunne also to the fore.

Clonoulty-Rossmore scorers: C Bourke (0-8, 4fs), C Hammersley (1-3), R Doyle (0-5), M Ryan, J Ryan, S Ferncombe (0-2 each), E Heffernan(0-1).

Mullinahone scorers: J Shelley (0-8,4fs), M O Shea (1-4), M Dunne (0-2), C Shelley, M Keogh, E Keane, S Curran, C Whelan, E O Dwyer (0-1 each).

CLONOULTY-ROSSMORE: J O Dwyer; T Ryan, E Heffernan, D Slattery; C Quirke, J O Keeffe, S O Connor; R Heffernan, M Ryan; S Quinn, C Hammersley, J Ryan; C Bourke, R Doyle, S Ferncombe.

Subs: J Maher for M Ryan (47), A Ryan for T Ryan (53), J Hammersley for Quinn (58);

CJ KICKHAMS, MULLINAHONE: E Kelly; D Dunne, P Curran, C O Brien; E Fennelly, S Curran, E Ryan; C Shelley, D O Brien; E O Dwyer, M Dunne, E Keane; M Keogh, J Shelley, M O Shea.

Subs: C Whelan for P Curran (19), A Curran for C O Brien(46).

Referee: K Jordan (Thurles Gaels).