What You Need To Know: Kilkenny hurling quarter and relegation finals decided
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Full match reports and reaction in the next edition of the Kilkenny People newspaper
It was a significant day in the Kilkenny hurling calendar as the senior and junior semi-finalists were decided.
However, the most significant result came from John Locke Park, where St Martin’s were relegated to the junior championship for the first time since their formation in 1982 following a 2-16 to 1-14 defeat.
The North Kilkenny club faced the Blacks & Whites in the Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Intermediate Relegation Final and were unable to rediscover the magic of the equivalent fixture last year, when they beat the Fenians to preserve their intermediate status.
Meanwhile, the winners maintained their intermediate status for a fourth consecutive year after winning the junior championship in 2022.
In the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Quarter-Finals, neighbours Bennettsbridge and Thomastown both secured semi-final spots with victories over Graigue-Ballycallan and Clara respectively.
After a five-game winless streak, Bennettsbridge appear to have turned their fortunes around, with Saturday’s victory over the shield champions making it three wins in a row. The Bridge narrowly edged out Graigue-Ballycallan 1-17 to 0-17 in UPMC Nowlan Park.
The second part of the double-header at Kilkenny GAA HQ saw 2024 champions Thomastown ease past Clara on a scoreline of 2-25 to 1-19.
The remaining two quarter-finals – O’Loughlin Gaels v Tullaroan and Shamrocks Ballyhale v Glenmore – will be played at 1.15pm and 3.15pm respectively on Sunday in UPMC Nowlan Park.
Three JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling Championship games were also played on Saturday, with some thrilling encounters taking place across the county.
Graignamanagh beat Emeralds in a classic after extra-time, winning 3-16 to 0-21, while Conahy Shamrocks had seven points to spare against Piltown in a 1-19 to 1-12 victory.
The remaining quarter-final between St Patrick’s and John Lockes will be played in Palmerstown on Sunday at 1pm, while Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels will tussle it out in the Section B final next Saturday.