The Echo Sport Podcast: Cork club hurling favourites for the county titles and Player of the Week
Conor Lehane was brilliant for Midleton against Erins Own. Picture: Larry Cummins
On The Echo Sport Podcast this week, Denis Hurley and Barry O'Mahony join Éamonn Murphy to review a bumper weekend of Cork club hurling action.
They look at the winners and losers from the group stages.
Relegation battles loom for some big clubs, including Charleville, league finalists, who must now defeat Bishopstown to save their Premier Senior status after an epic battle with Kanturk.
The top seeds have been decided across the grades, including champions Sars, who remain the club to beat in the top tier. Lisgoold and Russell Rovers are lifting in the Intermediate A and Premier Junior grades, while Watergrasshill's remarkable season continues as they won three group games at Premier Intermediate, as did Ballincollig.
Senior A front-runners Glen Rovers didn't need the injured Patrick Horgan to seal a semi-final spot, while Bride Rovers are also straight through. Blarney and Na Piarsaigh could yet have a major say in the competition though.
They discuss the game of the weekend, where Éire Óg and Mallow shared eight goals and it took points scored overall to decide who progressed to the PIHC knockout stages. Killeagh also pulled off a great escape, beating Inniscarra by enough to get out of their group having had no points on the board after the first two rounds.
Nemo Rangers showed their dual qualities in Premier Junior and Midleton's strength in depth was reflected by their second team's return to the knockout stages at Intermediate A.
A Hurler of the Week is chosen with a number of strong candidates. Alan Walsh had a remarkable 3-3 from play for Kanturk while Conor Lehane was imperious for Midleton, lancing over 0-14. Patrick Collins made a string of critical saves for Ballinhassig who sent Kilworth, last year's PIHC runners-up, into a relegation playoff. Sean Desmond was electric for Watergrasshill as they topped a tricky group while James Masters continues to reel in the years for the Nemo hurlers.
Plus a preview of the matches you need to catch in this weekend's last round in the football championships, with one of the favourites St Finbarr's under pressure to get a result and Mallow looking to build on their upset last month.
You can find us every week on Echoline.ie/podcast and all the major podcast platforms.
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