JUNIOR HURLING ROUND UP.
The Junior A,B,C and D Junior Hurling league is nearing the final stages. In the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior A competition Erins Owen of Castlecomer and Mooncoin have reached the semi-final stage and next weekend’s round of games will determine the other two teams which will be either Dunnamaggin, Thomastown, Young Irelands or Lisdowney. In the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior B competition this group is wide open with six team still in contention to make the semi-final places. Barrow Rangers and O’Loughlin Gaels have been setting the pace but still need the weekend games to secure their places while Glenmore could still slip into the semi-finals as they still have two games to play. It is the same situation in Iverk Produce sponsored Junior C and all will be determined with the last round of games over the coming weekend. Four from the group of five teams Bennettsbridge, Danesfort, Threecastles, Piltown and Mooncoin will reach the semi-final places. Piltown, Danesfort and Mooncoin still have two games to play while Bennettsbridge and Threecastles play their last round of games on Saturday next. The local derby between Mooncoin and Carrigeen on Friday night 19th at Mooncoin looks likely to go to the home team. Carrigeen under Manager and former Tipperary great John Leahy have failed to win any of their previous eight games so the odds are against them in this one. The Country Style sponsored Junior D competition is the only division to have reached the semi-finals and next Saturday Kilmacow will play Saint Martins in Kilmacow while Graignamanagh take on James Stephens in Graignamanagh.
There is certainly plenty of competition for junior clubs and the JJ Kavanagh & Sons sponsored Martin Treacy Cup is also nearing completion with two rounds of games to be played. This competition has been played during breaks in the Junior League and the All-County League.
The Permanent TSB Sponsored Under 19 league is nearing the final stages. In the Roinn ‘A , two rounds of games will be played over the coming week. In the Roinn ‘B’ both groups have completed all their games while in Roinn ‘C’ another round of games will determine the placing’s for the finals. The Roinn ‘D’ groupings, which has the largest number of teams still has at least one round of games to play. This league format has proved very popular with clubs and allowed the competition to continue without county players and will allow the short transition to the Championship after the All-Ireland series is completed.
By Mary Morgan Fri 19th Jul
