Tipperary SHC: Kilruane MacDonaghs defeat Borris-Ileigh in group stage rematch

TIPPERARY SHC: A closing flourish of six successive points saw Kilruane MacDonaghs avenge their North semi-final defeat against Borris-Ileigh in a Tipperary SHC group-stage rematch. Pic:  ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

A closing flourish of six successive points saw Kilruane MacDonaghs avenge their North semi-final defeat against Borris-Ileigh in a Tipperary SHC group-stage rematch.

Kian O’Kelly blasted to the Borris net after 60 seconds, and his side were never headed thereafter in a 1-22 to 1-15 victory at Dolla.

Craig Morgan was a significant addition for Kilruane, having missed their previous encounter 11 days prior, while their opponents fielded without captain Dan McCormack.

Borris battled back from their poor start to level, but Kilruane scored eight of the next nine points. Jerome Cahill was in inspired form during that spell, scoring three, while Thomas Cleary and Niall O’Meara flashed chances just over the bar.

A six-point swing followed as Shane Cleary missed a goal chance at one end before Borris countered for James Devaney to bury his third goal in two games against Kilruane. Cahill’s fourth point left it 1-12 to 1-8 at half-time.

It was back level by the three-quarter mark, but Borris didn’t score after the 52nd minute. Willie Cleary came up with a couple of huge catches down the stretch en route to a 0-8 tally (six frees).

Two more champions of recent years met at Templemore, where Kiladangan emerged with a 2-20 to 0-21 win over Clonoulty-Rossmore.

Tadhg Gallagher’s early goal sparked a 1-4 streak, although Stephen Ferncombe’s accuracy trimmed the half-time deficit to two, 1-10 to 0-11.

Willie Connors led the scoring as Kiladangan kicked on with five points in a row. Their work wasn’t done yet.

Ferncombe brought his total to 0-10 (eight frees), while Enda Heffernan tacked on a couple from play. But Conor Culhane fired home the clinching goal in the third minute of stoppage time to ensure the victory.

As divisional champions, both sides are guaranteed knockout hurling.

JK Brackens are in the same boat. They opened with a 2-28 to 2-18 triumph over Lorrha-Dorrha at Nenagh.

A breathless first half ended with Brackens a point ahead, 2-13 to 2-12. Two-time All-Star Patrick Maher netted an early goal and came close to two more as three fine points from Niall McIntyre opened a six-point lead.

Brackens transformed the game with two goals, from Shane Doyle’s 21-yard free and Stephen Cahill, but Maher turned provider for Alan O’Meara to level.

The second half was all about the Ormond brothers. Andrew and Jamie both arrowed over six points from play, while Andrew added a sideline cut. Doyle also slotted a sideline in a 1-6 contribution.

After a decade in the second tier, Cashel King Cormacs started their senior return with a 2-24 to 0-24 success against Mullinahone at Littleton.

Enda Keane made the early running for Mullinahone, while Seán Curran totalled 0-13 (10 frees) across the hour.

They led by three with 20 minutes to play, but Cashel finished the stronger. Devon Ryan squeezed the sliotar to the net from a tight angle for the lead score. Then, Cathal Quinn was fouled by Paul Curran for a penalty, which Eoghan Connolly stepped forward to skittle home.

Their half-back line contributed 1-11, made up of 1-5 from Connolly, including a last-puck sideline cut, 0-4 from his brother Ronan, who picked up a second yellow late on, and 0-2 from Conor O’Dwyer.