BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League
Yes, we have reached the final round of games in this season’s St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League, and there is still plenty to play for tomorrow at six venues across Noreside. As per the norm, all matches will throw in at 5pm so you would imagine that there will be a fair amount of traffic accessing the Kilkenny Cats app, as supporters try and keep abreast of events at all venues as they track what that means for their own clubs.
Round 4 saw some great hurling played across the county, with decent crowds in attendance as the penultimate set of fixtures played out. Danesfort surprised many Gaels, by defeating Brian Hogan’s O’Loughlin Gaels by 2 points in Páirc Lachtain to claim their first win of the campaign but know that they will need to secure a second win on the bounce when they take on group leaders, unbeaten Shamrocks Ballyhale.
There was plenty of entertainment and value served up in Callan and Thomastown with two fixtures in Group A unable to provide a winner. John Locke Park hosted the meeting of Graigue Ballycallan and Thomastown in a ‘battle of the blues’ and it was both teams placed ball specialists that kept the scoreboards ticking over, Aaron McEvoy notching 1-7 on the night while Robbie Donnelly continued his fine form, registering 0-9 as the sides couldn’t be separated. Meanwhile, Glenmore and Clara played out a higher scoring draw in Thomastown. Zack Lawlor’s quickfire 1-2 and Conor O’Shea’s major saw the maroon-clad team saw them go six clear, but a fighting finish from the Pairc na Ratha based side, including a goal from Ciaran Kirwan a late, late point from young Jack Dollard ensured a share of the spoils was secured.
The fourth-round action in Group A began with the clash of Bennettsbridge and Mullinavat in Páirc na Seamróg, and it was the Vegas Boys that triumphed against a ‘Bridge side that have left themselves facing a relegation battle to keep their seat at the top table. Conor Power and Ger Malone raised the green flags for the ‘Vat while James Hughes was once again one of the better performers for winless Bennettsbridge. In Group B Ballyragget was the venue for Tullaroan’s clash with Erin’s Own, and it would be plain sailing for Dave Mulcahy’s side. Gearoid Dunne hit a trio of goals, while their top marksman, Dylan Simpson added another 0-10 to his tally this campaign. The ‘Comer men are well used to being in dogged relegation battles and they will need the Buggy’s and Shane Feehan to dig in if they are to pull off another escape act.
UPMC Nowlan Park saw the meeting of Shamrocks Ballyhale and Dicksboro and it would be the current County champions that prevailed by seven points at the long whistle. When Shane Stapleton popped over a free in the 54th minute, the ‘Boro arrears was only two points, but a major from Brian Cody just 2 minutes later, coupled with late scores from young Mickey Barron and not so young TJ ensured that the Páirc na Seamróg men continued their unbeaten season in Group B.
Moving onto tomorrow, the game in Dunnamaggin between Mullinavat and Clara has plenty riding on it. The loser of this encounter will face off against Bennettsbridge in a relegation / round one championship fixture. Clara will again look to Conor O’Shea, David Barcoe and the experienced Chris Bolger to drag them clear, but The Vegas Boys won’t be found wanting, with Oisin Knox, Conor Power and Ger Malone all in good nick.
Two more teams that face a similar predicament are Dicksboro and Erin’s Own, who meet in Muckalee. The winner here knows that they can paise for breath, while the loser will find themselves in a relegation / round one championship fixture. Although they lost out to TJ & co, the Palmerstown outfit showed enough in that game and their victory over Danesfort to suggest that they might have enough to condemn the Comer side to yet another battle against the dreaded drop. Shane Stapleton’s placed ball accuracy will be key, while the speed and skill of Harry Shine and Patrick Lacey will cause plenty of problems for Erin’s Own. Conor McMahon, the Brennan’s and rising star, Josh Dowling will need to leave it all on the pitch to give their side a fighting chance.
Having registered a first win in Group B last time out, Danesfort faces an uphill task to repeat that feat when they tackle Shamrocks Ballyhale in Gowran. Despite disappointing results in the first three round of fixtures, the black and amber stripped side have played some nice hurling at times, but their experienced ‘heads’ Paddy Hogan and 4-time All-Ireland winner, Paul Murphy will need to help the younger crew of Fionn Mahony, Sam Hayes, Anthony Ireland-Wall and Ben Whitty shine. Even if the ‘Fort does the unthinkable and sink the Shamrocks, they will still need things to go their way elsewhere, meaning ‘Boro and ‘Comer to draw. Mark Aylward’s charges have been in rude health in this seasons St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League. Renowned for being slow starters when the club game gets underway, but this campaign has seen the Holden Plant Rentals sponsored side come out of the traps quickly this summer, and they are the only side with a 100% record at senior level. Niall Shortall looks to have come of age, while TJ as usual, doesn’t look his. The form of Brian Cody is another contributing factor in their run to date, while integrating Killian Ryan and Mikey Barron into the senior setup has paid dividends.
The form of Bennettsbridge has been somewhat alarming this season. They are the only team without a win across both groups, and regardless of the outcome in their fixture with Thomastown, Brian Lannon knows that a relegation battle lies ahead. It would help if they had a little positive momentum going into such a battle, but unless Thomastown take their foot off the gas, I can only see one winner emerging tomorrow.
Glenmore take on Graigue Ballycallan in Piltown, knowing that they can’t catch the men from Tom Ryall Park. GBC has been one of the most consistent sides on Noreside this season, and Aaron McEvoy has contributed handsomely to this. The sharpshooter has had good support from Jesse Roberts, Ryan Corcoran, and Conor Flynn, while Jeff Neary has been doing well in the engine room. Billy O’Neill is another that has caught the eye and notched 3 points in the draw with Thomastown. The men from Pairc na Ratha never give up, and they will need this fighting spirit and more in Piltown. Captain Ian Byrne will keep the scoreboard ticking over, while Cathal Beirne and Ethan Phelan will look to hurt GBC. The spine at the back in the form of Eoin and brother Shane Murphy will be key to how Seamie Dollard’s troops compete at the business end of the season.
Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan will play host to the meeting of Tullaroan and O’Loughlin Gaels. The Sash are two points ahead of tomorrow’s opponents, and while they may not outscored the St John’s Park men, they have been much tighter, defensively. The performances of netminder Niall Holland have been a real positive for Dave Mulcahy’s men, as has the return to action of Cats star Tommy Walsh. When you possess hurlers of the quality of Mossy Keoghan, Geraoind Dunne, Dylan Simpson and the classy Padraig Walsh, your side will always have a chance, and they have hurled very well so far in 2026. Newly appointed Cats U20 boss Brian Hogan will want to lay down a marker ahead of championship action and despite missing some stars, the likes of Mikey Butler, captain Paddy Deegan, Fionan Mackessy and Jack Nolan have plenty of experience. The standout performer for OLG so far has been rising star Ruarc Sweeney, who has gone goal crazy in Group B. Conor Kelly’s accuracy from placed balls alongside the pace of Cian Byrne, and attacking threat of Robbie Buckley and Greg Kelly will be tested as they face a confident Sash side. Another ‘Super Saturday’ on Noreside, the stakes are high, and there is plenty on the line as the league phase concludes. Ádh Mór to all teams tomorrow.
