JUNIOR HURLING ROUND 4 REPORT
It’s hard to believe that we are just a few days away from the deciding games in the 2019 junior hurling league. After three months of a gap, next week’s round five will determine the placing’s of teams and how they will square up for the championship campaign. In Section ‘A’ all three games were hugely competitive with little between any of the teams. On Friday night last Conahy Shamrocks travelled to the North of the county to take on Cloneen. The Conahy would have gone into this game as the fancied team and hoping to make the final push into the top two in their group. But the Cloneen team were determined to prove they had a lot more in them and wanted to show they were far better than had been in the first three rounds. They pushed Conahy all the way and looked at times they could get a result from the game but the Conahy team held tight to win by a single point, 3-11 to 2-15. On Saturday afternoon rival parish teams Graignamanagh and Blacks and Whites squared off in Doctor Tierney Park in front of a fine crowd. This clash is always one for the winners always brings serious bragging rights and this time round it was the home team Graignamanagh who carried those after the game on Saturday. Both teams went toe to toe but the home team just proved that little bit sharper winning 0-017 o 1-11. Later that evening North Kilkenny outfit Galmoy made the long journey south to Piltown to take on the fancied home team. Before the break near the end of May, Piltown had full points from their three games and with home advantage were the fancied team of this weekend clash. But the Galmoy outfit came a full arsenal and brought the game o Piltown. It as tit for tat throughout the game and in the end the fairer result prevailed with both teams sharing the points in a very entertaining and high scoring game 1-18 apiece. With round 5 to come next weekend there is still a lot to play for in positioning in the tables. A point for Piltown will leave them finishing top of table. The Graignamanagh and Conahy Shamrocks game is the most interesting of the groupings. A win for either will leave them in second place. Cloneen will finish bottom but the other three teams will certainly change table positioning after the weekend’s games.
In Section B top of the table is dominated by Mooncoin and Barrow Rangers and their game next Saturday will determine who finishes 1st and 2nd. A draw will see Mooncoin finish top with the better scoring difference. On Friday night last Barrow Rangers travelled to the picturesque Windgap venue. Windgap to date had not had the best of seasons so were hoping to pick up their first brace of points. Windgap certainly made things difficult for their opposition but Carlow border team were not going to be denied and won the game 0-16 to 0-14. On Saturday afternoon Mooncoin made the short journey to Slieverue and proved why this time round they are the fancied team to make the jump up to Intermediate grade. They totally dominated this game from start to finish with a display of masterful scoring. Try as they might Slieverue were not able to stem the surging tide. Mooncoin were full value for their impressive win 5-23 to 0-16. Later in the evening it was a two clubs who span different Munster county borders to square off. Kilmacow from the Deep South made the long journey north to Urlingford to take on Emeralds with the Tipperary county boundary in the background. Emeralds were determined to improve their fate by doubling their points tally to four and certainly achieved that on Saturday. They clocked up an impressive 1-23 to 0-10 win over Kilmacow who are still pointless after four games. As mentioned earlier, Mooncoin and Barrow Rangers will share first and second places in this group irrespective of any other games next week. Kilmacow will entertain Windgap with a win for either determining 5th or 6th placing’s. Slieverue will entertain Emeralds and with both teams on four points at present makes this game all to play for table positioning. Yes this is going to be another exciting weekends hurling in the Junior League/Championship.
By Mary Morgan Mon 2nd Sep
