Senior Hurling Championship Review with People Sports Editor Seamus Duke Padraig Pearses 3-14 Tremane 0-11 Padraig Pearses have assured themselves at least a play-off place for a semi-final berth after this easy win over Tremane in this low-key encounter played in Athleague last evening (Wednesday). Pearses had to win to stay in contention while Tremane were already out and it was one-way traffic from the first whistle. The first score of the game was a Pearses goal when Tomas Seale pulled first time to beat Michael Blighe in the 1st minute and by half-time Pearses led by 1-9 to Tremane’s 0-5. Tremane’s plight was worsened further when midfielder Francis Carr had to leave the field with a nasty facial injury after a high tackle from David Loughnane on the call of half-time. Indeed Tremane officials and some of their players spent the half-time break looking for Carr’s lost teeth on the Athleague pitch. The pattern contnued in the second half with Pearses on top – however Tremane were totally reliant on Adrian Coyne’s freetaking, which was exceptional. Shane Sweeney scored Pearses’ second goal in the 11th minute of the second half and Michael Donoghue grabbed a third for Pearses deep into injury-time. Pearses’ sub Cathal Kelly was very harshly sent off by referee Brendan McDermott in injury-time when a harmless looking tackle earned the Pearses man a straight red card. Pearses: P. Dolan; D. Dolan, D. Loughnane, S. Donoghue; A. Loughnane, M. Mulvey, J. Galvin; R. Donoghue, A. Sweeney; D. Mulvey (0-2), M. Donoghue (1-0), A. Sweeney (0-1); T. Galvin (0-1), T. Seale (1-2), S. Sweeney (1-7). Subs: P. Downey, C. Kelly, L. Flynn (0-1). Tremane: M. Blighe; M. Melia, M. Healy, M. Lynch; J Blighe, M. Keaveney, C. Melia; S. Melia, F. Carr; B. Keenan, A. Kelly, C. Keane; C. Brennan, A. Coyne (0-11), A. Purcell. Subs: A. Daly, E. Keaveney. Referee: Brendan McDermott. Kelly’s masterclass Oran 4-10 Four Roads 2-8 Oran scored their second win in a row to ensure that they will have at least a play-off chance to reach the semi-finals of the SHC this year following this eight-point win over Four Roads in Athleague last Sunday. Four Roads were in a slightly better position going into this game in that they had a play-off place secured at least – however Oran had to win to stay in contention and that they did. Oran looked the more determined team from the first whistle. Gerry Fallon’s free sailed into the Four Roads net after six minutes and then sixteen minutes later veteran Adrian Kelly kicked another Oran goal and incredibly Kelly repeated the dose six minutes later to help Oran to a 3-3 to 0-4 lead. There was only a minute to go to the break but we saw two more goals in the game before the interval. Michael Dwyer’s mis-hit still beat Stephen Lohan for another Oran goal in the 31st minute and almost immediately Four Roads got their first goal when Brendan Mannion flicked the ball to the Oran net to leave it Four Roads 4-3 Oran 1-4 at half-time. The second half saw Oran continue their dominance and although Four Roads tried as hard as they could to get back into the game, the damage was done and Brendan Kelly’s injury-time goal was of consolation value only to a well-beaten Four Roads team. Oran: E. Featherstone; D. Kenny, S. Lawless, A. Hannon; D. Varley, C. Mahon, J. Crehan; G. Fallon (1-2), D. Beirne; J. Shally (0-3), K. McDermott, M. Dwyer (1-0); K. Carty (0-1), A. Kelly (2-2), B. Flynn (0-2). Sub: P. Crehan. Four Roads: S. Lohan; M. Kelly, J. McDonnell, P. Mannion; N. Cunniffe, M. Kelly (0-2), J. Donnelly; E. Rogerson (0-5), P. Kelly; J. Moran, P. Tiernan (0-1), J. Rogerson; D. Dolan, B. Kelly (1-0), B. Mannion (1-0). Subs: R. Mulry, M. Glennon, D. Naughton, M. Morris. Referee: A. Flaherty. Gaels impress Roscommon Gaels 1-12 Padraig Pearses 0-12 Roscommon Gaels qualified for the semi-finals of this year’s SHC when they produced a great battling display to beat Padraig Pearses on Sunday last in Athleague. Having watched Oran defeat Four Roads earlier the Gaels know that they had to win this game and they produced a battling display to do so. The Gaels were hit by an injury to David Casey and he looks like he will be out for the remainder of the championship. The sides were evenly matched early on as they traded points but what turned out to be the decisive score of the game came about in the 18th minute when Gary Waldron got through for a goal. This helped the Gaels into a 1-8 to 0-7 half-time lead. The Gaels kept their noses in front throughout the second half and despite the accuracy of Shane Sweeney from frees and play Pearses just couldn’t get the scores to peg back the town team. Roscommon Gaels: J. Comiskey; K. Doolan, E. Browne, D. Clogher; F. Doyle, C. O’Brien, J. Hynes; G. Clogher (0-1), D. Waldron; P. Lennon (0-4), H. Flanagan, G. Waldron (1-2); D. Casey, L. Casey (0-2), K. Gately (0-3). Sub: J. Durkin for D. Casey Padraig Pearses: P. Dolan; D. Loughnane, A. Sweeney, S. Donoghue; P. Downey, A. Loughnane, C. Sweeney; R. Donoghue, J. Galvin; A. Sweeney (0-1), M. Donoghue, Anthony Sweeney (0-1); P. Galvin (0-2), D. Mulvey (0-2), S. Sweeney (0-6). Subs: C. Kelly T. Seale. Referee: Peter Mullen. Table Played Won Draw Lost Points R. Gaels 6 4 0 2 8 Athleague 5 3 1 1 7 Four Roads 6 3 1 2 7 Oran 6 3 1 2 7 Padraig Pearses 6 3 1 2 7 Tremane 5 1 0 4 2 St. Dominics 6 1 0 5 2 * If Athleague beat Tremane on Saturday night as expected then there will be a three-way play-off between Padraig Pearses, Oran and Four Roads for two semi-final places while Athleague and Roscommon Gaels will automatically qualify for the final four. * This weekend’s fixture: Athleague v Tremane (in Athleague on Saturday at 6.30 pm).
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