CLARE
LAST YEAR’S FINALISTS Cratloe exited the Clare senior hurling championship today as the group stages concluded.
Paddy Vaughan fired over a late pointed free to enable 2010 and 2011 champions Crusheen draw level at 0-16 apiece with Cratloe in their Group 2 tie at Cusack Park in Ennis. The result ensured Crusheen progressed to the quarter-finals but it’s the end of the road for Cratloe.
Inagh-Kilnamona are the other team to advance to the quarter-finals from this group after they got the better of St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield by 2-18 to 1-10 in Clarecastle.
Meanwhile in Group 3 it is Clonlara and Sixmilebridge who move forward to the quarter-finals. They met this afternoon in Clarecastle with Sixmilebridge triumphing by 1-18 to 3-10.
But both sides will progress with the other game in that group seeing Clooney-Quin defeat Clarecastle by 5-8 to 2-11.
In the Senior B championship, Ballyea moved into the final of that competition and the quarter-finals of the A championship by virtue of their 1-22 to 0-11 success against Scarriff.
Crusheen’s Pat Vaughan
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
CORK
Reigning champions Sarsfields moved into the semi-final stage of the senior hurling championship with a comfortable 5-12 to 2-9 quarter-final win over Killeagh today.
In a game played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Sarsfields raced into an early 2-2 to 0-0 lead after both Michael Cussen and Tadgh Óg Murphy found the net. Kieran Murphy grabbed a third goal and they were 3-5 to 0-6 clear at half-time.
Further goals by Cian McCarthy and Cussen stretched Sarsfields lead in the second-half and they were in front by 5-11 to 0-8 at one juncture. Killeagh fired home late goals from Sean Long and Andy Walsh but Sarsfields still ran out winners by a 12-point margin to set up a semi-final meeting with Ballymartle.
Sarsfields Kieran Murphy
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
In the second quarter-final clash at the venue this afternoon, Midleton enjoyed a runaway success over Bishopstown by 2-18 to 0-8. The East Cork exacted revenge in style for their quarter-final loss last year to Bishopstown.
Conor Lehane was on fire for Midleton as he struck 1-13 during the game. The winners lead by 1-9 to 0-4 at the break with Declan Ryan hitting the first-half goal for Midleton.
Lehane struck home the second goal in the 43rd minute and with both Paul Haughney and Luke O’Farrell in good form, Midleton ultimately cruised to a 16-point success. They now go forward to a semi-final tie against Na Piarsaigh.
Meanwhile a last-gasp pointed free from 100 yards by Anthony Nash handed his club Kanturk a semi-final win in the Cork intermediate hurling championship against Fermoy this afternoon in Ballyhea.
Nash was the hero with the vital point in the 2-16 to 2-15 victory. Irish International Rules vice-captain Aidan Walsh and Cork senior hurler Lorcan McLoughlin both weighed in with a goal apiece during the game for Kanturk.
Anthony Nash in action for Cork
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
DUBLIN
St Brigid’s booked their place in the semi-final of the senior hurling championship with a 1-20 to 1-17 success today against St Pat’s (Palmerstown).
In a game played at O’Toole Park, St Brigid’s ran out three-point winners after the teams had been tied at 0-9 apiece at the break.
In the second quarter-final tie played at O’Toole Park, there was success for Craobh Chiarain by 2-9 to 1-10 against Ballinteer St John’s.
