Tullamore and Rhode will contest the Offaly senior football championship (SFC) final for the third successive year after both chalked up semi-final victories over the weekend.
Rhode beat Tullamore in the 2021 decider while the latter exacted revenge last season following a replay, so the latest county showdown on September 25th will be the fourth clash between the sides in three years where the Dowling Cup is up for grabs.
Tullamore ran out 1-14 to 0-10 semi-final winners over Edenderry at O’Connor Park on Sunday, while Rhode needed penalties on Saturday evening to see off Ferbane in their last four clash.
Tullamore led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time against Edenderry and a late Diarmuid Egan goal closed out the win for the defending champions.
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It was far less straightforward for Rhode, who trailed for much of their semi-final. They needed a late free from Niall McNamee to force extra time and the sides could not be separated in the added periods either, with the game finishing 1-14 to 0-17. Cathal Flynn scored the Ferbane goal. Rhode goalkeeper Ken Garry emerged as the hero in the shootout, saving three penalties and scoring one himself as they battled out a 3-2 win.
Ballygunner remain on the throne of Waterford hurling after the kings of the club game heralded in a record-equalling ninth consecutive county senior title with a 2-11 to 0-8 win over Mount Sion.
The reigning All-Ireland club champions weathered a mini second half Mount Sion revival to ease out comfortable winners in horrible conditions at Walsh Park. The victory sees Ballygunner become only the third club to claim nine-in-a-row in Waterford, and the first since Mount Sion achieved the feat between 1953-61.
[ Nine-in-a-row for Ballygunner as Waterford kings reign supremeOpens in new window ]
Elsewhere, there were some significant fallers in the Tipperary senior hurling championship as both Thurles Sarsfields and Nenagh Éire Óg were eliminated on Sunday following preliminary quarter-final losses.
Clonoulty-Rossmore ran out 1-18 to 1-16 winners over Thurles Sarsfields, who contested last year’s county final. The game was decided by an injury-time penalty awarded to Clonoulty-Rossmore, which was converted by Stephen Ferncombe.
In the other preliminary quarter-final JK Brackens staged a sensational comeback to beat Nenagh at Semple Stadium. Nenagh led by seven points midway through the second half, but goals by Andrew Ormonde and Shane Bourke inspired JK Brackens to a storming 3-17 to 1-19 victory.
The eight Tipperary SHC quarter-finalists are JK Brackens, Clonoulty-Rossmore, Kiladangan, Toomevara, Drom & Inch, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Upperchurch-Drombane and Loughmore-Castleiney, who are the reigning champions.
The Cork SHC semi-finals will see Erin’s Own take on Blackrock and St Finbarr’s face Newtownshandrum. On Sunday, St Finbarr’s ran out 0-22 to 0-18 quarter-final winners over Douglas, while Blackrock beat Imokilly 3-0 in a penalty shootout after the sides finished level following extra time.
Meanwhile, Clonguish are the Longford senior hurling champions after holding off a second-half rally from 2021 winners Longford Slashers at Pearse Park. Clonguish, who led 1-9 to 0-3 at half time, were made sweat for their first title since 2019 as the Slashers fought back after the break and there were just three between the sides at full-time, 1-16 to 1-13.
