Moving weekend as hurling leagues near conclusion

There is only two rounds remaining in the Kilkenny hurling leagues as the competitions get set to reach boiling point over the next two weekends.

Supporters have enjoyed an almost festival-like feel of hurling over the last few weeks but the pressure is beginning to mount for a number of sides as knockout championship fare draws ever closer.

When it comes to silverware, there are a number of clubs who are still very much in contention for early season honours in the league.

At senior level, not many will be surprised to see that O’Loughlin Gaels still have a 100% record intact but the other club still boasting a 3-0 win record are the championship newcomers Thomastown. While many predicted they’d take the step up in their stride, few could have envisaged them looking so at home as they’ve been so far.

Any threat of relegation was quickly dispelled with successive victories over James Stephens, Tullaroan and Bennettsbridge.

One win in either of their last two games against Glenmore and Dicksboro should assure them of a place in the senior league final where it looks like they will face either O’Loughlin Gaels or Graigue-Ballycallan, who meet in a defining league encounter in Callan this Saturday.

Those three teams are leading the pack to book automatic quarter-final spots, but the real pressure points lie at the other end of the table with James Stephens, Glenmore and Erin’s Own all still awaiting their first win of the campaign.

Glenmore do at least have one point on the board in Group A but they may feel like they should have got more against Dicksboro last weekend so they may still harbour hopes of escaping the relegation battle by not finishing in the bottom two, a fate that looks destined to await both James Stephens (Group A) and Erin’s Own (Group B).

Previous five-in-a-row senior winners Shamrocks are also not out of danger as it stands with themselves Clara and Mullinavat all fighting to keep their automatic safety.

The intermediate grade is very similar to senior in that arguably the most impressive side is the promoted team as, just like Thomastown, Michael Doyle’s Tullogher-Rosbercon have steamrolled their way past their opponents with three wins on the board.

Lisdowney and Young Irelands are the other intermediate teams with a 100% record and with Gowran and Tullogher meeting in Thomastown on Sunday, that game looks an almost winner takes all encounter for qualification to the league final.

Like the senior grade, there’s a couple of sides looking over their shoulder with Dunnamaggin who reached last year’s semi-finals as well as Fenians and Blacks and Whites all still looking for a first win.

Everything will become a lot clearer come Sunday night when positions may already be decided ahead of the madness of the final round. Whether it’s fighting for league and shield success or just trying to stay afloat, there’s plenty of hurling to be played across the county.