Intermediate hurling round-up: Barryroe and Kilbrittain derby ends level

MILFORD enjoyed a wonderful start in group B of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Lower Intermediate Hurling Championship on Sunday.

Taking on Ballymartle’s second team in Carraig na bhFear, the North Cork side ran out 0-22 to 1-8 winners, having led by 0-13 to 1-6 at half-time.

Leading by 0-7 to 0-2 at the first-half water break, Milford – who were missing the injured Eoin Dillon – saw their lead cut to just a point, 0-8 to 1-4, when Jack Ryan netted a goal for the south-east side. However, they pushed four ahead again by half-time and seven consecutive points in the second half put them in a position that wasn’t going to be overhauled.

Brian Murphy was heavily among the scores for Milford from play and frees while Killian O’Gorman, Anthony Watson, Seán O’Connell and Mark Sheehan also featured.

Next up for Milford is a clash with Castlemartyr, who overcame St Finbarr’s by 3-13 to 2-13 in Riverstown. Niall Madden, Barry Lawton and Eoghan Martin got the goals for the East Cork side, who led by 2-10 to 2-5 at half-time.

The winners of the Castlemartyr-Milford clash are likely to qualify for the knockout stages, while the Barrs and Ballymartle meet in the other game where each will be looking for a victory to stay alive in the competition.

In group A, Kilbrittain and Barryroe played out a 0-12 each draw in Timoleague, with Colm Sheehan scoring the equaliser for Kilbrittain.

While Kilbrittain were 0-5 to 0-4 ahead after the first quarter, by half-time Barryroe had pushed 0-7 to 0-6 in front. Kilbrittain did draw level in the second period but their opponents established a 0-10 to 0-8 advantage again and looked to be about to claim the win until Sheehan’s late intervention.

Ross Cashman and Maurice Sexton were among the scores for Kilbrittain, with Mark Hickey and Philip Wall also registering. Jack Murphy was Barryroe’s top scorer with 0-8 as he contributed five points, including some vital dead balls, while Robbie Kiely, Patrick Moloney, Seán Holland and goalkeeper Billy O’Donovan also got their names on the scoresheet.

With Russell Rovers and Ballygarvan having shared the points in Saturday’s group A game, it means that the four sides are in the same situation as before the start, with Kilbrittain taking on Russell Rovers next weekend while Ballygarvan play Barryroe.