Round-up: Weekend's senior club championship action

Antrim

Reigning Antrim SFC champions, Cargin, banged in four goals on the way to an impressive 4-15 to 1-11 victory over St. John’s.

Gerard McCann hit the first of them in an evenly contested first-half that saw the teams go in level at the break, 1-6 to 0-9, but Cargin raised the ante considerably in the second-half.

Kevin O’Boyle and Benen Kelly struck for goals that gave their team a firm grip on proceedings, and then another green flag by Conhuir Johnston settled the issue.

Armagh

The match of the weekend in the Armagh SFC saw Crossmaglen Rangers defeat Granmore by 1-13 to 0-11 in what was a repeat of the 2022 SFC Final. A Cian McConville goal helped the winners into a six-point lead after just eight minutes. Granemore finished the match strongly, but had given themselves too much to do.

Maghery enjoyed a notable 2-19 to 1-16 win over last year’s beaten finalists, Clan na Gael. Stefan Forker scored eight points while Tomás Toye and Brendan Haveron struck for the goals.

Reigning champions Clann Eireann looked formidable when beating Carickcruppen by 1-25 to 0-5.

Cavan

Reigning Kyte Powertech Cavan SFC champions, Crosserlough, made it two wins from two in this year’s campaign with a comfortable 3-17 to 0-9 victory over Ballinagh with the goals scored by Oran Rehill, Stephen Smith, and Peter Smith.

Kingscourt Stars and Gowna also have two wins from their first two matches. Kingscourt enjoyed a 3-13 to 1-10 victory over Ballyhaise with the goals scored by Kevin Curtis, Padraig Faulkner, and Jordan Morris.

Gowna defeated Cavan Gaels by 1-20 to 0-17 with the goal scored by Conor Casey.

Clare

Reigning champions Eire Óg clinched their place in the quarter-finals of the Clare SFC in style with a 4-21 to 2-7 win over Kildysart. They’ll be seeded for that quarter-final draw along with Lissycasey and Kilmurry with one of Cratloe, Ennistymon, or St. Breckan’s to be drawn as the fourth seeded team. Doonbeg will play Miltown in the play-off round.

Cork

After two rounds of the Cork SHC, four teams are already assured of their place in the knock-out stages – Sarsfields, Glen Rovers, Charleville, and Blackrock.

Reigning champions Sarsfields were very impressive when beating Erin’s Own by 4-30 to 3-15. Jack O’Connor excelled, hitting 1-8, while Killian Murphy, Cathal McCarthy, and Conor O’Sullivan were other stand-outs.

Patrick Horgan hit 1-9 for Glen Rovers in their 1-19 to 0-19 win over Fr. O’Neill’s, while Darragh Fitzgibbon scored 0-8 for Charleville in their 1-21 to 0-15 win over Newtownshandrum.

Derry

Dungiven will play Glen in Round 2A of the Derry SFC after beating reigning champions Newbridge by 2-15 to 0-11. Niall McGonagle was their scorer in chief, registering a personal tally of 1-8, with Joe Dillon scoring the other goal for the winners. Newbridge now face a do or die Round 2Bmeeting with Swatragh.

The other Round 2A matches will see Bellaghy play Slaughtneil, Steelstown play Loup, and Magherafelt play Lavey.

The other Round 2B matches see Drumsurn play Faughanvale, Banagher play Ballinderry, and Kilrea play Ballinascreen.

The winners from Round 2A progress to the quarter-finals, with the losers from Round 2A and winners from 2B advancing to Round 3 and the losers from Round 2B going into relegation playoffs.

Donegal

Reigning champions St Eunan’s registered their first win of the campaign at the second time of asking as they defeated Aodh Ruadh by 2-21 to 1-13. Having lost to Kilcar in their first match, they were strengthened by the return of county players Shaun Patton, Ciaran Moore, Conor O’Donnell, and Niall O’Donnell and dominated the match from start to finish. Eoin McGeehin struck the goals while the two O’Donnells scored 10 points between them.

The draw for Round 3 of the Donegal SFC is as follows.

Four Masters vs Glenfin

St Michael’s vs Termon

Ardara vs Sean MacCumhaill

Gaoth Dobhair vs Aodh Ruadh

St Eunan’s vs St Naul’s

Killybegs vs Kilcar

Glenswilly vs Dungloe

Downings vs Naomh Conaill

Down

Reigning champions Portaferry signalled their intent with a very convincing 2-28 to 1-13 Down SHC victory over Liatroim. Niall Mulligan struck the two goals with Daithi Sands, Finn Turpin, and Noah Rogers also scoring heavily.

Ballycran had to dig deep to get the better of Bredagh on a scoreline of 2-16 to 2-12 while Ballygalget defeated Carryduf by 0-21 to 112.

Dublin

All-Ireland champions Na Fianna were pushed all the way by Ballyboden St. Enda’s in the Dublin SHC before emerging victorious by 2-21 to 1-21. Two first-half goals by Tom Brennan helped the reigning champions to a 2-13 to 1-11 half-time lead, and they made the win safe late with late points from Jack Meagher and Gavin King.

Kilmacud Crokes made it three wins from three in Group 2 of the Go Ahead Ireland Dublin SHC when beating St. Vincent’s by 0-25 to 1-14. With forwards like Oisin O’Rorke and Fergal Whitely on song, Crokes moved into a 0-13 to 0-5 lead by half-time. Helped by a John Hetherton goal, Vinnies reduced the deficit to four points in the second-half, but Crokes put their foot on the gas again to run out comfortable winners.

Galway

Milltown’s impressive start to the Galway SFC continued when they drew with reigning champions Corofin on a scoreline of 1-15 apiece. Trailing by 1-9 to 0-7 at half-time, Milltown came on strong in the second-half with Eoin Mannion scoring their goal. They pushed three points ahead, but Corofin finished strongly to snatch a draw after a topsy turvy game.

Kerry

A late Alex Hennigan goal helped Dr. Crokes to a hard-fought 1-14 to 0-15 win over Rathmore. It looked like the underdogs might cause an upset when a Shane Ryan two-pointer and a point on the run by Alan Dineen helped them into a 0-15 to 0-13 lead. But Crokes finished strongly to take the spoils with Hennigan’s goal coming in the 57^th minute. Paul Geaney scored 1-8 as Dingle defeated Milltow/Castlemaine by 1-19 to 0-10.

Kildare

A Naas team gunning for a fifth Kildare SFC title in arow enjoyed another impressive win at the weekend, defeating Maynooth by 1-23 to 2-13. Three two-pointers helped the champions into a 0-13 to 1-6 half-time lead but Maynooth levelled early in the second half when they hit their second goal of the match. It was all Naas from there though as they powered to a comfortable victory in the end.

Kilkenny

Ballyhale Shamrocks made it three wins from three in Group A of the St. Canice’s Credit Union Kilkenny SHL thanks to a 4-25 to 3-14 win over Lisdowney. Henry Shefflin’s team dominated throughout with the goals coming from Brian Coady (two), Eoin Cody, and Niall Shortall. Reigning Kilkenny SHC champions, Thomastown, came from five points down in the second-half to defeat Mullinavat by 0-22 to 2-12.

Laois

Camross enjoyed an impressive 3-24 to 0-20 victory over Ballinakill in the Laois SHC. Zane Keenan smashed a 21 yard free to the net just before the break to give Camross an 11-point half-time lead and the result never looked in doubt thereafter.

Castletown edged out Portlaoise by two points, Borris In Ossory Kilcotton enjoyed the same margin of victory over Abbeyleix, Rathdowny Erril were five point victors over Clough Ballacolla, while The Harps proved too strong for Rosenallis.

Leitrim

The draw for Round 2 of the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC has produced a repeat of this year’s ACL Division 1 Final with St. Mary’s Kiltoghert set to do battle with Fenagh St. Caillins while champions Mohill will visit Leitrim Gaels in what’s the only meeting of two winning teams from Round 1. Mohill defeated Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s by 1-12 to 0-12 while Leitrim Gaels were comfortable 3-22 to 3-9 victors over Melvin Gaels.

Limerick

Reigning Limerick SFC champions, Adara, had to dig deep to beat Rathkeale by 2-13 to 0-17. Goals from Shane O’Connor and Ollie Desmond gave Adare a good buffer, but Rathkeale finished the stronger team and were perhaps somewhat unfortunate not to at least claim a share of the spoils.

Monaleen were the only other team to make it two wins from two in the Limerick SFC, as they prevailed over Na Piarsaigh by 1-16 to 2-7.

Longford

Killoe are assured of their place in the knock-out stages of the Longford SFC after a comfortable 2-17 to 0-5 win over Mostrim with the goals coming from Conor Mulligan and Ronan Keogh. Reigning champions Abbeylara are back on track after a six-point victory over Mullinalaghta. They’ll also take their place in the quarter-finals barring a total collapse against Slashers in their final fixture in a couple of weeks time.

Meath

After a surprise defeat to Rathkenny in the first round of the Meath SFC, defending champions Dunshaughlin got their campaign back on track with a convincing victory over Meath Hill on a scoreline of 4-15 to 2-7. Ruairi Kinsella scored the first goal of the match and two more in as many minutes from Fursey Blake and Conor Duke before half-time put Dunshaughlin in the driving seat.

2023 champions, Summerhill, breathed new life into their challenge by defeating St. Peter’s, Dunboyne on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-12. Eoghan Frayne was their key man, registering a personal tally of 1-8.

Monaghan

Scotstown and Clontibret produced the best match so far in the Monaghan SFC as they battled to a 1-22 apiece draw. Defending champions Scotstown raced into a 1-5 to no score lead after just seven minutes, but a Clontibret team inspired by Conor McManus who scored 1-10 came roaring back.

Latton made it two wins from two in the Monaghan SFC with an impressive six-point win over Magheracloone that follows hot on the heels of a big first round win over Aughnamullen. Inniskeen also made it two wins from two as they edged out Aughnamullen by two-points on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-14. RE

Offaly

Last year’s beaten finalists, Ferbane, bounced back from their defeat to Rhode in Round 2 of the Offaly SFC to emphatically beat Durrow on a scoreline of 3-16 to 2-7. A Darragh Flynn goal helped them into a four-point half-time lead and then 1-5 without reply in the third quarter settled the contest.

Reigning champions Tullamore swept to a convincing 3-14 to 0-6 victory as players like Harry Plunkett, Mike Fox, Cormac Egan, and Cillian Bourke impressed.

Roscommon

Reigning Roscommon SFC champions, Pádraig Pearses, got their championship campaign back on track with fine 1-17 to 1-14 victory over Clann na nGael. The returning Jack Tumulty was very influential for the winners, scoring 1-4 from play.

It was St. Faithleach’s who beat Pearses in Round 1, and they produced another very impressive display to beat St. Dominic’s by 1-20 to 1-11 on an evening when they scored 1-17 from play.

Sligo

Easkey’s bid for sixth Sligo SHC title in a row got off to a convincing start when they defeated Western Gaels by 1-21 to 0-13. Last year’s beaten finalists, Naomh Eoin, had things a bit tougher against Coolera Srandhill but eventually came out on top by 3-22 to 3-17.

Tipperary

Reigning champions, Loughmore-Castleiney, got their FBD Insurance Tipperary SFC campaign off to an impressive start as they defeated Killenaule by 2-14 to 0-9. Two early goals from Eamon Connolly gave them a flying start and they never looked back. Last year’s beaten finalists, Clonmel Commercials, also got off to an impressive start as they hammered Ardfinnan by 4-20 to 0-7. Michael Quinlivan was their main man in attack, scoring 1-3 from play.

Waterford

Fourmilewater came back from 10 points down to defeat Abbeyside/Ballinacourty by 0-27 to 3-15 in the Waterford SHC. Full-forward Sean Walsh was the star of the show, scoring seven points from play in a thrilling exhibition of attacking play. Fourmilewater will now play Roanmore in the Quarter-finals. The other quarter-final ties will see reigning champions Ballygunner play Passage, Lismore play De La Salle, and Mount Sion play Clonea.

Westmeath

Reigning champions, Castletown Geoghegan made it three wins from three in the Slevins Coaches Westmeath SHC as they defeated Clonkill by 6-26 to 0-11. Alan Managan’s side led by 1-15 to 0-5 at the break and slammed in five more goals in the second-half.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Lough Lene Gaels, are second in the table now thanks to a 2-19 to 1-14 win over Raharney while Fr. Dalton’s recorded their first win of the campaign after beating Castlepollard by 3-14 to 1-14.

Wexford

Defending champions Castletown are through to the quarter-finals of the Dominic Smith Electric SFC after a comfortable 0-18 to 0-12 win over Kilanerin. Robbie Brooks and Donnacha Holmes did a lot of damage in the Castletown attack, and the margin of victory would have been greater were it not for a fine performance by Kilanerin goalkeeper Conor Hughes. Last year’s beaten finalists, Gusserane, also made a statement of intent as they hammered Naomh Éanna by 3-26 to 0-13. Sean Ryan banged in two of those goals while Páraic Conway hit six points from play.

Wicklow

Bray Emmets have won the last six Wicklow Senior Hurling Championships and it looks like they’ll be hard stopped again this year. They were convincing 2-26 to 0-11 winners over St. Patrick’s at the weekend, and have room for further improvement having hit 10 first-half wides. Padraig Doyle produced a captain’s performance, scoring five points from play. Last year’s beaten finalists, Carnew Emmets, enjoyed a solid 2-23 to 0-16 win over Éire Óg Greystones with the goals coming from Paudie McGing and Fionn Darcy.